Jean René Bazaine was a French writer, painter, and stained-glass window designer. The great-grandson of English court portraitist Sir George Hayter, he was born in Paris and first studied sculpture under Paul Landowski before turning to painting at the École des Beaux-Arts.

His work debuted in 1930 in group exhibitions alongside Fautrier, Pougny, Goerg and Gromaire. He caught Bonnard’s eye, who was keen to encourage him, and he held his first solo show in 1932. In 1945, a fire destroyed much of his studio, including important watercolours, but he persevered and evolved his style, becoming a leading painter of the Modern School of Paris. Galerie Maeght held his first major exhibition in 1949/50, marking the beginning of a lifelong partnership.