The wife and descendants of Charles de Bonneville, a painter and illustrator originally from Le Puy-en-Velay in France's Haute-Loire region, are actively searching for the artist's missing works to complete a comprehensive family retrospective.

Charles de Bonneville, who spent most of his life in Le Puy-en-Velay, dedicated his artistic career to drawing and painting the iconic landmarks of the Haute-Loire region. Following his death, his wife, children, and grandchildren have embarked on an ambitious project to create a retrospective of his complete body of work. They are specifically seeking paintings and drawings that were sold or given away over the years, hoping to photograph these pieces for inclusion in a special album intended for family members and interested friends.

"For family memory and to introduce our descendants to this man of extraordinary artistic talents," explains Alix de Bonneville, Charles's widow, describing the project's primary purpose.

Born in 1932, Charles pursued formal artistic training at the École des Beaux-Arts in Saint-Étienne from 1948 to 1952. Over the decades, his distinctive style evolved and flourished through various mediums, including pencil drawings, India ink illustrations, and felt-tip pen sketches. Charles also created numerous oil paintings throughout his career. As an active member of the artists' association "Les Artistes du Velay," he participated in numerous exhibitions during the 1990s and early 2000s, establishing himself as a respected figure in the regional art community.

Charles became a familiar sight throughout the Haute-Loire region, easily recognizable with his characteristic hat firmly placed on his head and a pipe hanging from the corner of his mouth. He traveled extensively throughout the area, carrying his drawing materials and paintbrushes along the roads of Haute-Loire to capture the region's most treasured locations.

His artistic documentation of the region was remarkably comprehensive. Charles sketched virtually every significant landmark in Haute-Loire, from the magnificent cathedral of Le Puy to the Chapel of Saint-Michel d'Aiguilhe. His portfolio includes detailed renderings of the Basilica of Saint-Julien in Brioude, the medieval cloister of Lavaudieu, the volcanic peak of Mont Mézenc, the fortress town of Polignac, the village of Champagnac-le-Vieux, and the scenic Allier Valley. His masterful pencil work elevated these locations, capturing and conveying their authentic character and historical significance.

The family has already made significant progress in their cataloging efforts, having identified and photographed approximately 150 pieces of Charles's work. Many original artworks have remained within the family collection, carefully preserved over the years. However, a substantial number of pieces were sold to collectors or given as gifts to friends and acquaintances during Charles's lifetime, and their current whereabouts remain unknown.

Charles was remembered not only for his artistic talents but also as a gentle dreamer and self-taught pianist who possessed a generous spirit. Following his death in 2003, his family has been working diligently to create a comprehensive family album featuring his complete artistic legacy. Their current mission focuses on locating the missing works to photograph them and incorporate them into this memorial collection.

The family's ultimate goal extends beyond creating a personal memorial album. They hope that once the collection is complete, there may be an opportunity to organize a public exhibition featuring a selection of Charles's works, allowing the broader community to appreciate his artistic contributions to documenting the cultural and natural heritage of the Haute-Loire region.

Anyone who owns or has information about artworks by Charles de Bonneville is encouraged to contact the family. They can be reached via email at hubertdebonneville@free.fr or by telephone at 06 51 88 87 97. The family expresses gratitude for any assistance in helping to preserve and celebrate the artistic legacy of this talented regional artist.