Racing the Sunset

Anne-François de Sérilly, France

Born in 1966 in Paris, France, Anne-François de Sérilly is well-known in the noble circles for his portraits. Sérilly has signed portraits of the Duke of Uzes, the Duke of Vendôme and Count Louis de Causans Grimaldi who, at press time, is suing the French government, claiming to be the rightful heir to the throne of Monaco. Between commissions, he paints fr om his imagination and has amassed a private collection that includes themes of dance, cards, theater, circus, haute couture and the sea. His next exposition is set for August 15 through September 3 at the Biddeford Pool Community Center on the Maine coast. When he was just 25, Sérilly decided to wander off the beaten path and embrace the life of an artist. During his early years of training, he studied the works of the great painters of the 17th and 18th centuries. Respecting the masters, he patiently honed their techniques before creating his own style. For Sérilly, painting has an academic aspect, in which each canvas is painstakingly prepared, leaving nothing to chance. Armed with this invaluable education, Sérilly spent five years in Brazil, inspired by its bright and intense colors. To this day, Sérilly is in endless pursuit of geometrical simplicity and bold perspectives. A favorite theme in his collections is the parade of figures amidst a carefree, light backdrop. He’s created a world wh ere curves intermingle with straight lines to perfection unseen in reality. Sérilly lives in Paris with his wife and their five children.