Major Robert F. Burns

90th Division, U.S. Army

War Letters from Europe

Normandy to Germany

Paintings/Lithographs by Robert F. Burns

Robert F. Burns studied art during his time at the University of Illinois, graduating with a Bachelor's Degree in Fine Arts with a major in painting. After graduation, he moved to San Francisco to continue his study of art and photography. When he joined the military, he was working at the San Francisco Museum of Art.

In the summer of 1945, while still stationed in Regensburg, he requested the opportunity to attend the Beaux Arts in Paris for a semester as part of the GI educational program. He began his formal classes at the School of the Beaux Arts on October 15, 1945. He studied with Jean Souverbie, head professor, and Jean Jaudon. During his nearly three months living in Paris, he attended classes, visited art museums, and sketched and painted. The first painting below, "Jeune Fille Lisant" (Young Girl Reading) was part of an exhibit at a "student's show" as noted in this article in the Paris edition of the New York Herald Tribune.

During his time at the Beaux Arts and after he returned to France in June 1946 to marry Paulette Lequien, he experimented with various styles of painting, as seen below. He painted a number of portraits of Paulette and her daughter, Marie-Paulette Lequien. After he returned to the U.S., he continued to paint throughout his life. As he aged, he was particularly fond of painting flower arrangements, whether flowers selected from the garden or formal arrangements received as gifts. A selection of those paintings is also reproduced below. His last self-portrait is an excellent likeness of himself in old age.

	Jeune Fille Lisant Marie-Paulette Lequien in school uniform Painted while enrolled at the Beaux Arts Paris, France 1945 NY Herald Tribune article about Soldier Art that mentions this painting
	Paulette Lequien Burns before marriage Paris, France 1945
	Marie-Paulette Lequien in blouse and skirt sent to her from the U.S. by Grace E. Burns Paris, France 1945
	Dancers Paris, France 1945
	Paulette Lequien Burns Paris, France 1946
	Paulette Lequien Burns In apartment at 94 rue de la Condamine Paris, France 1946
	Lithograph Harbor at Pornic, France 1946
	Lithograph Institute of France Paris, France 1946
	Lithograph Notre Dame Paris, France 1946
	Lithograph Paulette and Minette Pornic, France 1946
	Lithograph The Letter Paris, France 1946
	Marie-Paulette Lequien doing homework at 94 rue de la Condamine Paris, France 1946
	Paulette Lequien Burns wearing hat she wore on their wedding day Paris, France 1946
	Wine Bottles Paris, France 1946
	Painting Box in apartment at 94 rue de la Condamine. Painting in box lid is Pornic scene. Paris, France 1946
	Pears Paris, France 1946
	Bridge, Ile de la Cite Paris, France 1946
	Bridge Paris, France 1946
	Bridge Paris, France 1946
	Tuileries Paris, France 1947?
	Tuileries Paris, France 1947?
	Cemetery Grave of Elise Marie Dorpsman's grandmother Senonches, France 1947
	Town Scene, France Paris, France 1947
	Muguet des Bois Plant given to Elise Marie Dorpsman for her birthday Paris, France 1947
	Flowers and Book Paris, France 1947?
	Bridge in Pornic, France, woman doing wash Painted in Chicago from photograph or sketch 1956
	Bridge in Pornic, France painted in Chicago from photograph or sketch 1956
	Green Vase Chicago unknown date
	Flowers and Apples Chicago unknown date
	Flower Basket Chicago 1970's
	Daisies Chicago unknown date
	Green Pitcher Chicago unknown date
	Orchids Chicago unknown date
	Beige Vase Chicago 1980's
	Blue Vase for Grace E. Burns Chicago unknown date
	Pink Flowers for Grace E. Burns Chicago unknown date
	Robert F. Burns Self-portrait 1990's