Born in Le Havre, Dufy was from a large family and had to start work at the age of 14. He studied art at night school, eventually receiving a grant enabling him to attend the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris. Impressionistic at first, he became a convert to Fauvism under the influence of Matisse. He also collaborated with Braque, but soon developed the highly personal manner for which he became famous.

Read more

Dufy’s work is characterized by brightly coloured drawing depicting the glittering scenes of luxury and pleasure he favoured. The accessibility of his work lent itself to commercial advertising and his style was widely copied as a result. Dufy died at Forcalquier in 1953 and was buried near Matisse in Cimiez, a suburb of the city of Nice.