The career of Alexis Jean Fournier left its mark on East Aurora perhaps as much as any other original Roycrofter. His murals in the salon of the Roycroft Inn are without a doubt the most familiar of his work to the Inn visitor. The son of Canadian parents, Isaie and Annie Marie Mathilde Fournier, Alexis was born in St. Paul, Minnesota in 1865. His career would take him from sign painter to one of the widely recognized fine artists of his time. He traveled to Europe seven times in his career including London, Paris, Rome and Venice, studying and exhibiting his work and, for a while, making his home in France. At Elbert Hubbard's invitation in 1903 he moved to East Aurora and became artist-in-residence at the Roycroft. He built his own home adjacent to the Roycroft Campus a year later.
The victim of a stroke, a slip on an icy walk, Alexis Fournier died in 1948.
Visit the Roycroft Campus to see the works of Fournier, at the Roycroft Inn, the Hubbard/Roycroft Museum and as well at the East Aurora Public Library.
Remember the Roycroft Campus, become a supporting member, applications for membership are in every FRA magazine.
Oh, What's a Barbizon painter? Guess you'll have to wait another day for that.
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