Ferdinand Du Puigaudeau

Ferdinand Du Puigaudeau (1864–1930) was a French painter associated with the Pont-Aven school and influenced by the Nabi movement. Born in Nantes, he initially studied locally before making his first visit to the seaside village of Pont-Aven in 1886. There, he stayed at the Gloanec hotel, a gathering place for artists working on a budget, where he encountered Paul Gauguin, who was also visiting for the first time. This connection placed Puigaudeau among a circle of artists observing and interacting with one of the most important painters of the late 19th century. 

Inspired by Gauguin and the emerging Nabis movement—whose members sought to act as “prophets” of modern art—Puigaudeau embraced a heightened palette, simplified forms, and vigorous brushwork reminiscent of pointillism. He developed a particular passion for capturing the subtleties of light, which is evident in his garden views and scenes of his home at Kervaudu, rented from M. Lebreton de Fontenelle around 1907. These works are infused with a warm luminosity and freshness of color, reflecting both the landscape and his deep engagement with its atmosphere.

Kervaudu’s location on a peninsula near Nantes brought Puigaudeau into contact with fellow artists such as Emile Dezaunay, Alexis de Broca, and Donatien Roy, with whom he undertook frequent painting excursions from 1910 to 1914, capturing sunsets, the sea, and windmills. He also maintained close relationships with other leading artists of his time, including Degas, Rysselberghe, Ensor, and Paul-Albert Besnard. Degas affectionately nicknamed him the “Hermit of Kervaudu” in recognition of his secluded lifestyle and dedication to his art. Puigaudeau continued painting at Kervaudu until his death on September 15, 1930.