The Execution of Beloyannis (1953)Figure on a ladder (1953)Bombing of Sakiet (1958)The Emigrants - triptych (1964-66)Vespa with Couple (1976)Disparates (Omnia Vincit Amor) (1977)The Violation of Innocence (1989)
Peter Laurent de Francia (25 January 1921 – 19 January 2012) was a French-born British artist, who served as Professor of Painting at the Royal College of Art (RCA), London, from 1972 to 1986. He was the author of two books on Fernand Léger: Leger: The Great Parade (Painters on Painting) (1969) and Fernand Léger (1983).
De Francia was born in Beaulieu-sur-Mer Alpes Maritimes, France. He was educated at the Academy of Brussels (1938–40) and between 1945 and 1948 attended the Slade School, University of London.
He worked from 1949 to 1950 at the Canadian Government Exhibition Commission in Ottawa, and subsequently in the Architects' Department, American Museum, New York City (1950–51). From 1953 to 1968 he was a tutor in the Department of Art History and Complementary Studies at St Martin's School of Art, London (1953–68), and from 1963 to 1969 also tutored in the Department of Art History and Complementary Studies at the Royal College of Art (RCA). He was Principal of the Department of Fine Art, Goldsmiths' College, University of London (1969–72), and from 1972 to 1986 was Professor of Painting at the RCA.
Selected solo exhibitions
2011 - Peter de Francia. Paintings: A 90th Birthday Retrospective, James Hyman Gallery, London
2009 - Peter de Francia. Art World Drawings, James Hyman Gallery, London
2008 - Peter de Francia: A Sideways Glance, Charleston
Modern Myths, New York Studio School (catalogue), New York
2007-08 - The Ship of Fools: Peter de Francia in Focus, Pallant House, Chichester
2006 - Peter de Francia, Tate Britain (brochure, interview by Philip Dodd), London
2005 - After the Bombing, James Hyman Gallery, London
2004 - Drawings, The Gallery, Wimbledon School of Art, London
2002 - Peter de Francia: Fables and Other Drawings: 1990-2001, Queen's Gallery, British Council, New Delhi, India
1999 - Peter de Francia: Drawings, Ruskin School, Oxford
Peter de Francia: Ballets Africains: Drawings, The Place, London
1996 - Peter de Francia: Drawings 1993-96, Austin/Desmond Fine Art, London
1995 - Peter de Francia, Gloria Gallery, Nicosia, Cyprus
1991 - Peter de Francia, Centre for Contemporary Art, New Delhi, India
1987 - Peter de Francia: Paintings and drawings, Graves Art Gallery, Sheffield
1989 - Peter de Francia: Untitled, Frith Street Gallery, London
1990 - Peter de Francia, Pomeroy Purdy Gallery, London
1987 - Peter de Francia: Retrospective, Camden Arts Centre, London
1983 - Peter de Francia, Forum Gallery, New York
1980 - Peter de Francia, New Art Centre, London
1978 - Peter de Francia, Gallery of the Institute of Cultural Relations, Budapest, Hungary
1977 - Peter de Francia: Retrospective, Camden Arts Centre, London & New 57 Gallery, Edinburgh
1976 - Peter de Francia, New Art Centre, London
1969 - Peter de Francia, New 57 Gallery, Edinburgh
1962 - Peter de Francia, Forum Gallery, New York
1962 - Peter de Francia, Gallery of the Union of Czech Writers, Prague
1961 - Peter de Francia, Galerie d'Eendt, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
1959 - Peter de Francia, Colonna Gallery, Milan, Italy
1958 - Peter de Francia, Waddington Galleries, London (catalogue)
Peter de Francia, Colonna Gallery, Milan, Italy.
Selected publications
Impressionism, Methuen & Co., 1956.
The Great Parade (Painters on Painting). Worthing: Little Hampton Book Services Ltd, 1969. 32 pp. ISBN 0304932779.
Fernand Léger, New Haven: Yale University Press, 1983. 288 pp. ISBN 0300030673.
Peter de Francia: Fables, Maruts Press, 2002.
Peter de Francia Portraits, James Hyman Fine Art, 2006.
