Saint-Louis Blaise

Who is Saint-Louis Blaise?

Saint-Louis Blaise, or St. Louis Blaise, is a Haitian painter.

Born in Cap-Haïtien, Blaise began painting in 1971, studying with Charles Anatole and the Bottex brothers. He moved to Port-au-Prince, where he worked for a time at Galerie Issa. He died at the age of 38 from a rare blood disorder. Blaise's brothers, Fabolon, Serge Moléon and Andre Blaise, are also noted painters. Andre and Serge Moléon are the only surviving members of the Blaise family of painters.

Saint-Louis Blaise painted historical scenes, especially scenes from the Haitian Revolution and the reign of Henri Christophe. Later "he turned his attention to paintings of exaggeratedly fat members of the Haitian bourgeoise in a manner reminiscent of Botero. But whatever the subject, his attention to detail was unrivalled."

His works are widely collected and are particularly popular in France, where they have been exhibited in Paris. The painting shown is in the collection of the Galerie Monnin, who are the agents for Blaise's estate, along with his wife.