Contemporary Artists | Period Artists (A-H) | Period Artists (H-Z)

Albert Malet (1912-1986)

It is now sixteen years since the death of “the last of the Impressionists” as Albert Malet was considered to be by the major art critics of his time.

Born in 1912, at Bosc le Hard, near Rouen, Albert Malet was greatly impressed by the work of Jean-Baptiste Corot, but his greatest inspiration to pursue the world of art came from the famous Rouen painter, Robert Antoine Pinchon.  A tremendous understanding developed between the two men, which evolved into a great friendship that lasted until Pinchon’s death.  Malet then became his successor as the head of the prestigious École de Rouen.

It is important to note that as a key member of L’École de Rouen, Malet painted regularly with the other leading Rouennais artists of that time such as Narcisse Guilbert, Marcel Couchaux, Pierre Le Trividic, Narcisse Henocque and Maurice Louvrier.  His work also inspired a number of noted poets of the  time, namely Philippe Tournaire, Pierre Laurent, Roger Vaccaro and Olivier Costa de Beauregard.

A highly talented man, Malet was also a meteorologist, a botanist, he studied astronomy and had a great knowledge of precious metals and prehistoric fossils.  He held a diploma from L’Ecole Normale, as well as being Vice-President of the Société des Sciences and Chevalier des Palmes Académiques.

Malet was a member of the Comité des Peintres Normandes and the Société des Artistes Rouennais.  The Salon de l’École Française invited him to exhibit in the Palais de Tokyo in Paris.  He won a gold medal at the Salon U.F.O.L.E.A. and a bronze in the exhibition for Artistes Français. Malet’s paintings have been shown throughout the major galleries around the world and that the President of France offered his work on a number of occasions as a gift to visiting heads of state, including President Ronald Reagan.

Despite his many titles and achievements, Malet remained eternally modest - always encouraging his pupils and admiring the qualities of others.  Malet’s sole focus was inspiring young artists to develop and continue the great tradition of L’École de Rouen.