Jean Monneret "ÉTRETAT" – Original Oil on Canvas

Updated September 5, 2026

Artist: Jean Monneret (French, 1922–2005) Title: Étretat Date: 1964 Medium: Original Oil on Canvas Signed: Lower left, dated "64" Sight Size: 23" × 28" Framed Size: 31" × 36" An exceptional original oil on canvas by acclaimed French painter Jean Monneret, depicting the famous fishing harbour at Étretat, Normandy, one of France's most celebrated coastal communities. The reverse stretcher is inscribed "Étretat", confirming the location portrayed. Painted in 1964, this superb work showcases Monneret's highly recognizable palette knife technique with richly layered impasto, expressive brushwork, and luminous colour. Traditional fishing boats rest quietly in the harbour against the dramatic Normandy coastline, while thick applications of paint create remarkable texture and depth throughout the composition. Artist Biography Jean Monneret (1922–2005) was an accomplished French painter celebrated for his expressive landscapes, harbour scenes, coastal villages, and marine paintings. Educated at the prestigious École des Beaux-Arts in Paris, he developed a distinctive post-war style combining traditional French Impressionist influences with bold palette knife techniques and expressive impasto.Throughout his career, Monneret became particularly known for painting the picturesque coastlines of Normandy and Brittany, where fishing ports such as Étretat, Honfleur, and other maritime communities provided endless inspiration. His paintings are admired for their vibrant colour harmonies, heavily textured surfaces, and ability to capture the changing light of the French coast.His work was exhibited extensively throughout France and Europe and remains highly collectible today. Original oils from the 1950s and 1960s, especially large maritime compositions, are among the most desirable examples of his oeuvre. Condition Original oil on canvas. Signed and dated 1964 lower left. Reverse stretcher inscribed "Étretat". Canvas appears stable and well preserved. Rich original impasto throughout. Housed in an attractive carved giltwood frame exhibiting minor age-appropriate wear consistent with display. Overall presents in very good estate condition. Auction Estimate (CAD) Estimate: $3,000 – $5,000 CAD Large, signed original maritime oils by Jean Monneret from the 1960s remain highly desirable, particularly examples depicting the iconic Normandy coastline. Works of this size, quality, and subject matter consistently attract strong interest from collectors of post-war French art, with Étretat being one of the artist's most recognizable and sought-after locations.

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