Albert Marquet (French, 1875–1947) was a painter and prominent member of the Fauvist movement. Marquet was born in Bordeaux, and moved to Paris as a teenager to attend the Ecole des Arts Decoratifs, where he met and formed a close friendship with fellow artist Henri Matisse. After transferring to the Ecole des Beaux Arts, Marquet studied under symbolist artist Gustave Moreau, whose artistic philosophy would inspire many of the most important young artists of the early 20th century.
Marquet’s early paintings were expressive and brightly colored, much like the work of his contemporaries, which included Maurice de Vlaminck (French, 1876–1958), André Derain (French, 1880–1954), and Raoul Dufy. In 1905, he, along with Matisse, Dufy, and several others, exhibited at the Salon d’Automne, where the descriptor fauves (wild beasts) was first coined in reaction to the intense coloration in the paintings on display.
As Marquet’s approach to painting evolved, he began experimenting with a more naturalistic style, frequently depicting the landscapes surrounding Paris. He continued to use strong colors in his works, but, unlike Matisse, he frequently favored a muted palette of grays and light blues, more closely associated with the Impressionists. He traveled extensively throughout his life, painting the ports and beaches of Normandy, Venice, and North Africa.
Today, his works can be found in the collections of major institutions, including the Art Institute of Chicago in Chicago, IL; the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, Russia; and The Museum of Modern Art in New York, NY.
Marquet died in northern France at the age of 71.