PARIS, FRANCE.- Robert G. Schmidt exhibited for the last time in Paris in 2001 at the galerie Saint-Roch. His production is rare, and this new exhibition, in the same gallery, will exceptionally last two and a half months. He will present 25 recent paintings of French villages, Breton and Mediterranean ports and a few still lives with violin.

Robert G. Schmidt was born in Paris and studied the Beaux Arts at the Académie Julian. As of 1947 he painted a few “sur le motif” works -directly on the spot. For nearly 20 years he took care of an industrial binding business, while he continued to paint and draw. In 1948, he befriended Jean Paulhan, Marcel Aymé and Gen Paul and later Gilbert Cesbron, with whom he kept up a privileged correspondence. In 1958, he developed a passion for the sea, bought a sailboat capable of sailing the deep seas, and prepared himself to sail around the world. In 1966, he had his decisive encounter with Pierre Jérôme, and became his student. He was also greatly influenced by Braque whom he approached slowly, and he “graduated” from just as slowly. In May 1968, the galerie André Weil in Paris exhibited his first paintings. In that same year he encountered Olivier Messiaen and their friendship, based on music and painting, was immediate. From that date on he exhi bited regularly in Paris and abroad. In 1969, he was selected for the Prix de la Critique (Critic's Prize). As a member of all the important Parisian salons and president of the Salon Comparaisons from 1996 to 2002, a great number of his works are in public and private collections in France, in the United-States, in Japan, in Switzerland, Spain and Morocco.