Major Robert F. Burns

90th Division, U.S. Army

 

War Letters from Europe

Normandy to Germany

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People Identified


Paintings/Lithographs by Robert F. Burns

Robert F. Burns studied art during his time at the University of Illinois, graduating with a Bachelor's Degree in Fine Arts with a major in painting. After graduation, he moved to San Francisco to continue his study of art and photography. When he joined the military, he was working at the San Francisco Museum of Art.

In the summer of 1945, while still stationed in Regensburg, he requested the opportunity to attend the Beaux Arts in Paris for a semester as part of the GI educational program. He began his formal classes at the School of the Beaux Arts on October 15, 1945. He studied with Jean Souverbie, head professor, and Jean Jaudon. During his nearly three months living in Paris, he attended classes, visited art museums, and sketched and painted. The first painting below, "Jeune Fille Lisant" (Young Girl Reading) was part of an exhibit at a "student's show" as noted in this article in the Paris edition of the New York Herald Tribune.

During his time at the Beaux Arts and after he returned to France in June 1946 to marry Paulette Lequien, he experimented with various styles of painting, as seen below. He painted a number of portraits of Paulette and her daughter, Marie-Paulette Lequien. After he returned to the U.S., he continued to paint throughout his life. As he aged, he was particularly fond of painting flower arrangements, whether flowers selected from the garden or formal arrangements received as gifts. A selection of those paintings is also reproduced below. His last self-portrait is an excellent likeness of himself in old age.

 

Marie-Paulette Lequien

Jeune Fille Lisant

Marie-Paulette Lequien in
school uniform
Painted while enrolled at the Beaux Arts
Paris, France
1945

NY Herald Tribune article about Soldier Art that mentions this painting

Paulette Lequien Burns Paulette Lequien Burns
before marriage Paris, France
1945
Marie-Paulette Lequien Marie-Paulette Lequien in blouse
and skirt sent to
her from the U.S.
by Grace E. Burns
Paris, France
1945
Dancers Dancers
Paris, France
1945
Paulette Lequien Burns Paulette Lequien Burns
Paris, France
1946
Paulette Lequien Burns Paulette Lequien Burns
In apartment at
94 rue de la Condamine
Paris, France
1946
Pornic

Lithograph
Harbor at
Pornic, France
1946

Lithograph
Institute of France
Paris, France
1946

Lithograph
Notre Dame
Paris, France
1946

Lithograph
Paulette and Minette
Pornic, France
1946

Lithograph
The Letter
Paris, France
1946
Marie-Paulette Lequien

Marie-Paulette Lequien doing homework at 94 rue de la Condamine
Paris, France
1946

Paulette Lequien Burns

Paulette Lequien Burns
wearing hat she wore on their wedding day
Paris, France
1946

Wine Bottles

Wine Bottles
Paris, France
1946

Painting Box
in apartment at
94 rue de la Condamine.
Painting in box lid is Pornic scene.
Paris, France
1946

Pears
Paris, France
1946

Bridge, Ile de la Cite
Paris, France
1946

Bridge
Paris, France
1946

Bridge
Paris, France
1946

Tuileries
Paris, France
1947?
Tuileries
Paris, France
1947?

Cemetery
Grave of Elise Marie Dorpsman's grandmother
Senonches, France
1947

Town Scene, France
Paris, France
1947
Muguet des Bois
Plant given to Elise Marie Dorpsman for her birthday
Paris, France
1947
Flowers and Book
Paris, France
1947?

Bridge in Pornic, France, woman doing wash
Painted in Chicago from photograph or sketch
1956

Bridge in Pornic, France painted in Chicago from photograph or sketch
1956

Green Vase
Chicago
unknown date

Flowers and Apples
Chicago
unknown date

Flower Basket
Chicago
1970's
Daisies
Chicago
unknown date
Green Pitcher
Chicago
unknown date
Orchids
Chicago
unknown date

Beige Vase
Chicago
1980's

Blue Vase
for Grace E. Burns
Chicago
unknown date
Pink Flowers
for Grace E. Burns
Chicago
unknown date
Robert F. Burns Robert F. Burns
Self-portrait
1990's

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