Jean Albert Raffy, known as Raffy the Persian, was born on April 28, 1920, in Montmartre and died on September 16, 2008, in Saint-Aygulf. Of Iranian origin, he distinguished himself as a painter, watercolorist, draftsman, pastel artist, and sculptor. Coming from a bicultural family, he grew up reconciling his Persian and French heritage. After beginnings in fashion design and cartooning, he devoted himself fully to painting from the age of 32, developing a unique style combining Persian miniature and Western naive art.
Raffy favored small formats highlighted by gilded stucco frames, but also produced larger works. He exhibited for the first time in 1952 and participated in numerous exhibitions and biennials, including Jeune Peinture, Salon d'Automne and Peintres Témoins de notre Temps, as well as the Paris and Menton biennials. His reputation was confirmed through exhibitions at the Galeries Drouant and Charpentier, and at the Maison de l'Iran in 1974 and 1976.
His work is appreciated for its original fusion of cultures and continues to inspire art lovers. Raffy the Persian leaves behind a notable artistic legacy, exhibited in private and public collections.
