Rafael de Tours - Bichon

Rafael is a French artist born in 1968, whose pictorial work is distinguished by a constant dialogue between contemporary creation and mastery of classical techniques. Trained at the École du Louvre and having worked in the restoration workshops of national museums, he has developed a practice in which painting, noble materials, gilding, and meticulous finishes occupy a central place.
His background as a painting restorer directly informs his work: knowledge of supports, pigments, antique papers, and the precise techniques inherited from French museum restoration. This technical foundation allows him to create works that are both refined and highly structured, often marked by a tension between figuration and poetic abstraction.
He explores various formats, on canvas, paper, and sometimes in nature. His world is often described as spiritual and sensitive to nature, with a search for renewal, memory, and inner energy.