BONAMICI, Louis (1878–1966)


" The Knife Grinder in Front of the Church of Jonquières in Martigues "


Oil on panel (old inscription on the back of the panel)
Signed lower left,

A fine example of the work of painter Louis Bonamici, this piece depicts a knife grinder—a 20th-century itinerant trade that involved sharpening blades using a grindstone. The artist places the craftsman in front of the Jonquières Church in Martigues and skillfully uses the wooden panel to highlight him. In the background, the painting offers a view of the town’s houses.
True to his style, the painter plays with light to capture the full intensity of the Provençal sun.
The work thus serves as a valuable testament to local life in the first half of the 20th century.
A master of knife painting, Louis Bonamici strives to capture the warm colors of Provence through scenes of ports and daily life.
His works are executed in a harmonious blend of vivid colors; his thick application of paint gives his works depth, compelling viewers to step back to fully appreciate them.
He was appointed Official Painter to the Navy in 1921.
Note: There are a few rare, scattered cracks from the past, which have no impact on the artwork and are due to the paint drying too quickly.

Dimensions: 46 x 61 cm unframed and 68 x 83.5 cm with a modern gilded wood frame.

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