Born in Aix-en-Provence, the shy son of a banker, French painter Paul Cézanne (1838-1906) celebrated color in his paintings and has been called the founder of modern of art.

"With an apple, I will astonish Paris." said the self-taught artist who painted over 200 oil and watercolor still life with bold color and majesty. His style was all his own.

"If I were called on to define briefly the word 'art'," he said. "I should call it the reproduction of what the senses perceive in nature, seen through the veil of the soul."

Childhood friend and writer Emile Zola called Cézanne's paintings "unbelievably sincere and truthful."

Boldly following his own vision, Cézanne turned to nature for guidance, transforming reality into art and insisting upon self-expression and originality. "Painting from nature is not copying the object; it is realizing one's sensations," he said. "Nature is not on the surface, it is deep down."

The "Father of Modern Painting" received most of his acclaim after his death. Critics celebrated his passionate execution, vibrant paint, and wizardry with the palette knife.

Friend to Monet and Pissarro, mentor to Picasso, Cézanne urged younger artist to "paint their own vision" and said, "Get to the heart of what is before you. Continue to express yourself as logically as possible."

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