Guy de Montlaur
| Guy de Montlaur | |
|---|---|
|
Autoportrait sans indulgenge (1969) | |
| Born |
Guy de Villardi, comte de Montlaur 9 September 1918 Biarritz |
| Died |
10 August 1977 (aged 58) Garches, Paris |
| Nationality | French |
| Education | Académie Julian |
| Known for | Painter |
| Movement | Cubism/Expressionism |
| Website |
montlaur |
|
Military career | |
| Allegiance |
 France |
| Service/branch |
French Army Free French Naval Commandos |
| Years of service | 1938-1945 |
| Rank | Lieutenant |
| Unit |
|
| Battles/wars | |
| Awards | Legion d'Honneur |
Guy de Villardi de Montlaur (9 September 1918, Biarritz—10 August 1977, Garches) was a French artist and soldier. His family originated from Montlaur (Hérault), a 10th-century castle north of Montpellier in the Languedoc country. His ancestor Bernard II de Montlaur, Lord of Vailhauquès, had fought with Raymond IV of Toulouse in the First Crusade (1096–1099).[1]
As a young man Montlaur studied philosophy at the Sorbonne, and painting at the Académie Julian from 1936-1938.[1] He worked with Emmanuel Fougerat and Jean Souverbie.
In October 1938 he was conscripted for military service, serving in the 3e Régiment de Hussards. He was a member of the 15è Groupe de Reconnaissance de Corps d’Armée initially based at Sarreguemines on the German border during the battle of France.[2] He eventually left France, travelling to England via Lisbon to join the Free French in October 1942. His unit – the 1er Bataillon de Fusiliers Marins Commandos, in which he served as a Second-Maître[3] (Sergeant) – was attached to No. 4 Commando of Lord Lovat's 1st Special Service Brigade for the invasion of Normandy on 6 June 1944, landing at Ouistreham.[1] He also took part in the assault on the Dutch island of Walcheren ("Operation Infatuate") on 1 November 1944, having been commissioned at a lieutenant.[4] Montlaur received the French Croix de Guerre with seven citations and the Légion d'Honneur by the age of 25.[1]
After the war Montlaur worked at the Art Students League of New York from 1947–1949, and exhibited his work regularly in Paris thereafter.[1] Initially an exponent of Cubism, he later matured into a more Expressionist style.
Montlaur is buried at the military cemetery at Ranville, Normandy.[5]
In the 1962 film The Longest Day he was played by Georges Rivière.[6]
Exhibitions
- 1937 : Salon des Artistes Français, Paris.
- 1949 : Galerie Lucienne-Léonce Rosenberg, Paris.
- 1949-1950 : Salon des Surindépendants, Paris.
- 1951 and 1954 : Galerie Colette Allendy, Paris.
- 1951 : 3rd Exhibition Art Club, Hotel Negresco, Nice.
- 1950-1958 : Salon des Réalités Nouvelles, Paris.
- 1959 : Comité France-Amérique, Paris.
- 1971 : Galerie Rolf Lutz, Paris.
- 1994 : French Embassy, Washington, D.C.
- 1994 : Montgomery Gallery, San Francisco.
- 2012 : Memorial Pegasus and Ranville City Hall Library, Normandy, France.
- 2012 : Chateau de La Thibaudière Orangery, Anjou, France, on National Heritage Day..
- 2013-2014 : Chateau de Montlaur, Hérault, France.
- 2014 : Memorial Pegasus, Ranville, Normandy.
- 2015 : Memorial Pegasus, Ranville, Normandy, France. Permanent exhibition of "Pegasus before landing" donated to the museum.
- 2015 : Perm State Art Gallery, Perm, Federation of Russia.
- 2016 : Exhibition Hall of the Union of Artists of Russia, Chelyabinsk, Federation of Russia
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Biography - Guy de Montlaur". montlaur.net. 2007. Retrieved 11 March 2013.
- ↑ "Novembre 1938 – juin 1940 « Montlaur". blog.montlaur.net. 2013. Retrieved 11 March 2013.
- ↑ "D-Day - Commando Kieffer - Order of battle". americandday.org. 2012. Retrieved 11 March 2013.
- ↑ "OPERATION INFATUATE - WALCHEREN". combinedops.com. 2013. Retrieved 11 March 2013.
- ↑ "Guy de MONTLAUR". Biographie de Fusiliers marins et Commandos. 2013. Retrieved 11 March 2013.
- ↑ "The Longest Day (1962) - Full cast and crew". imdb.com. 2013. Retrieved 11 March 2013.