This biography from the Archives of AskART:
|  Born in San Francisco, CA on Jan. 7, 1909. Bertrand studied at the CSFA under Spencer Macky and later taught there. In 1934 he was one of 26 artists commissioned by the Federal Public Works of Art Project to paint murals in Coit Tower (subject of his mural: Meat Industry). He died in Oakland, CA on Dec. 18, 1986. Exh: SFAA annuals; Calif. Statewide (Santa Cruz), 1929, 1931; SFMA, 1935. In: SFMA. | Source:
Edan Hughes, "Artists in California, 1786-1940"
SF Chronicle, 3-10-1940; Coit Tower; Who's Who in American Art 1936-41. | | Nearly 20,000 biographies can be found in Artists in California 1786-1940 by Edan Hughes and is available for sale ($150). For a full book description and order information please click here. |
Biography from Spencer Jon Helfen Fine Arts:
| | A San Francisco native, Raymond Bertrand studied art at the California School of Fine Arts. His works on canvas were predominantly landscapes, featuring scenes of California's striking geography, as well as oil paintings of Arctic landscapes noted for their use of icy blues, grays and whites.
His best-known contribution to California Modernism came when Bertrand participated as one of the 26 artists chosen by the New Dealer's Public Works of Art Project to create frescoes, and one bas relief, in the newly-built Coit Tower in San Francisco. Bertrand's fresco, a depiction of California's meat-packing industry, showed the industry at work, from the hanging and cleaning of pigs through the processing of hams and sausages.
His use of subtle colors- flesh tones, tans, grays and greens- contrasted effectively with the bright harvest colors of the Maxine Albro agriculture fresco, which faced Bertrand's piece. The composition of Bertrand's fresco offered a hint of Cubist influence, setting it apart from some of the other works in the Tower.
Later in his career, Bertrand returned to the California School of Fine Arts as an instructor of lithography. Ultimately he moved to Sonoma, California, where he spent the remainder of his life. |
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