Michel Delacroix’s charming historical scenes of Paris capture impressions of nostalgic and romantic moments. Combined with these early recollections are memories of the stories his nanny told about Paris before World War I. As a child Michel discerned only the splendor . . . horse-drawn carriages, gas-lit lamps, hot air balloons and bustling crowds—not the struggle and strife that the Parisian working class was experiencing during this time of war. Although Paris has changed over the years, Delacroix’s scenes maintain a timelessness. He imbues each image with an intimate quality as he conveys the idealism of an era past.
Michel Delacroix was born in Paris’ 14th District in 1933. After studying two years at the Ecole des Beaux Arts in Paris, Delacroix temporarily interrupted his formal education to explore the city. “I walked endlessly from district to district, inspecting every corner and absorbing all the nuances accumulating an endless store of impressions to draw upon for my paintings,” he says. It was during this time that Delacroix worked for Marcel Marceau and experimented with set design. He eventually returned to complete his studies, and went on to teach art. Continuing to paint and experiment with a variety of techniques, Delacroix eventually developed his signature style.
Michel’s style has been called “naïve” because of its candidness, however, his works are created with the skill and knowledge of the well-educated artist. His skillful paint applications, precise details and subtle palette are at once proficient and captivating.
Delacroix has participated in numerous solo exhibitions and his art has received critical acclaim worldwide. Over the years he has received many awards, including the Prix Public-Prix Pro Art (Switzerland 1973); the Grand Prix des Amateurs d’Art, (Paris 1975); the Grand Prix de la Cote d’Azur, (Cannes 1976); and the Premier Prix de Sept Collines, (Rome 1976). He achieved one of the highest accolades for a contemporary artist in 1976, when his work was purchased by the Ministry of Culture for Paris’ Fonds National d’Art Contemporain. Delacroix’s paintings belong to private, public and museum collections worldwide.
