Peter De Francia Three Quarrymen About 1968 © Estate of Peter de Francia courtesy James Hyman Gallery

Biography

Born 1921
Died 2012
Nationality British
Birth place Paris

An influential artist, writer and teacher, Peter De Francia was born in the Alpes Maritimes and grew up in Paris. He studied in Brussels and at the Slade School of Art in London. Producing paintings and drawings, De Francia’s work was both politically and historically involved, influenced by social realism, Fernand Léger and Max Beckmann. From the mid 1970s De Francia concentrated predominantly on his drawings, which have a strong element of satire and caricature. From 1972-86 he was Professor of Painting at the Royal College of Art, London. During this time, his interest in social and political themes inspired many of his pupils, including John Bellany, and won him admiration from many Scottish artists including Ken Currie, Peter Howson and Adrian Wiszniewski.