Artibonite Artists The painters of the Artibonite region in central Haiti, where Hôpital Albert Schweitzer is located, have developed their own style, which is both unique and easily recognizable. The style began with Ismaël Saincilus, the deceased great master of the region, who was influenced by Byzantine art he had seen in books. Ismaël began to paint in 1956 after visiting the Centre d’Art in Port-au-Prince. His paintings are marked by their exquisite use of detail as well as the gentle facial expressions of his figures. Every article of clothing, house, or tree is painted with a different, highly intricate geometric pattern. Saincilus' brothers, Larimer and Emmanuel have also become well-known for their distinct stylistic choices. Jean-Louis Delouis grew up in Petite Rivière under the influence of Ismaël. Although he worked under Ismaël for 15 years, he never had formal painting lessons. He began painting to make money, but gradually began to paint carefully executed scenes from his imagination. His works are full of a sense of abundance and fancy. Alix Dorléus also learned to paint with Ismaël and Mrs. Gwen Grant Mellon. He paints all day long and will paint anywhere he feels the spirit to motivate him. His best works are meticulously detailed depictions, almost map-like in their precision, of daily life in the Artibonite Valley.		by Alix Dorléus Artistic Traditions Religious Culture Vodou Gods Artibonite Artists Home