Valentin Gallery

Valentin Gallery
Former name L'Art Français
Established 1934
Location Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Type Art Gallery
Collections Canadian, French and Quebecian artists
Founder Lucienne & Louis Lange
Curator Jean-Pierre Valentin

Valentin Gallery is Quebec's oldest gallery in existence.[1] Created in 1934, it is first called L'Art Français and had its start on Laurier Street in Montreal.[2] Owners Lucienne (1900-1992) and Louis (1890-1956) Lange in the beginning showed works by French artists. By the 1940s they were offering art by Marc-Aurèle Fortin and Philip Surrey.[3] In 1975, Jean-Pierre Valentin purchased the gallery. The gallery moved to its present Sherbrooke Street location later[4] and changed the name for Valentin Gallery.[1]

Galerie L'Art français

In the beginning L'Art français was a shop selling frames and reproductions of French paintings. The owners were Louis and Lucienne Lange, who came to Canada in 1930. Louis was from Belgium and Lucienne from France. They were ready to go back to Europe when they decided to open the framing gallery on Laurier Avenue, incorporating print sales for better access to the public. Through the framing activity, they started meeting artists who came there to have their paintings framed. In 1936 a first show by Quebec artist Fleurimont Constantineau was the starting point in a non-stop series of exhibitions. Mr. Lange then decided to travel to Europe, especially to France and Belgium, in order to buy paintings. The gallery also exhibited young Canadian painters.[5] While it opened with a stock entirely from France, World War II interrupted importations so it went Canadian.[4] In 1943 and 1944 two solo exhibitions of Henri Masson[5] and the first solo of René Richard were held.[6] Sculptures by Jordi Bonet were also exhibited.[7] n the 1950s, painters such as John Little were regularly exhibited. Canadian painters were now the main feature of exhibitions at L'Art français. The Lange also sold the paintings of painters such as Adrien Hébert, Suzor-Côté, Alfred Laliberté, Clarence Gagnon, Horatio Walker, Cornelius Krieghoff, Coburn, Lyman, Jackson, and also abstract surrealist works by Riopelle, Pellan, Borduas, and Jean Dallaire. In 1956, Mr. Lange died and his wife decided to carry on.[5] She exhibited Miyuki Tanobe.[8] During these years, Stanley Cosgrove, Ozias Leduc, Paul Soulikias and Goodridge Roberts exhibited their works here.[9] The gallery exhibited also Henri Masson, Berthe des Clayes,[10] Edmund Alleyn, Ghitta Caiserman, P.V Beaulieu, Lismer, Borenstein,[11] Pilot,[12] Emily Carr, Brymner, Cullen, Franchère, Adrien Hébert, Massicotte, Plamondon, Johnstone,[13] Bourassa,[14] Laliberté and Henri Julien.[15]

Valentin Gallery

Since the early 1970s, the gallery exhibits Miyuki Tanobe, young Canadian painters and more "classical" painters such as Marc-Aurèle Fortin.[5] The Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec had access to the Fortin's research resources for an exhibition about the artist.[16] The gallery also helps tracking down works in private collections for exhibitions in museums.[17] Quickly, instead of focusing on French art, the gallery forged ahead by choosing to display Quebecer and Canadian artists[3] like Lemieux, Riopelle, Suzor-Coté.[4] Retrospective exhibitions were held with artists such as Surrey,[18] Molinari,[19] Dallaire,[20] Borduas,[21] Lyman.[22] The gallery also exhibits young sculptors and painters such as Christian Deberdt, Geneviève Jost, Élène Gamache et Pearl Levy,[9] Jeannette Perreault,[3] Maja Vodanovic,[23] Henry Wanton Jones,[24] Stanislav Germanov,[25] Thérèse Lacasse,[26] Guylaine Beauchemin.[27] At each anniversary the gallery is presenting a big selection of Canada classics.[3]

Jean-Pierre Valentin

Born in France in 1949, he is a master in International Trade after studies in a Paris commerce school. He was a Paris-based art dealer who travelled the world selling works of art.[28] In 1977, he occupies a position on the Board of Trustees of the Professional Art Dealers Association of Canada. In 1981, he became the youngest president[29] and was reelected in 1983.[30] He has given conferences on how to build an art collection and on how to invest in art,[31] on the importance of a good appraisal[32] and on the works of Marc-Aurèle Fortin.[33] He works on the catalogue raisonné of this artist.

References

  1. 1 2 mtl-cvvol5no4
  2. ↑ The globe and mail http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/firefighters-rescue-riopelle-pilot-paintings-from-burning-montreal-gallery/article564697/
  3. 1 2 3 4 Bernard Mendelman, "Two Montreal galleries celebrate milestones", The Suburban, October 19, 1994, A-26
  4. 1 2 3 Lolly Golt, "Dealing in the Fine" in Montreal Living, p. 37
  5. 1 2 3 4 "L'Art Français in Montreal", Gallery Profile, in Le Collectionneur, Vol.1, n°2, 1978
  6. ↑ http://www.ameriquefrancaise.org/en/article-540/René_Richard,_Landscape_Painter.html
  7. ↑ http://www.erudit.org/feuilletage/index.html?va1081917.va1258129@32
  8. ↑ Virginia Nixon, Fingers, Art in The Gazette, Spring 1972, p. 48
  9. ↑ http://www.erudit.org/feuilletage/index.html?va1081917.va1209070@52
  10. ↑ p.52 http://www.erudit.org/feuilletage/index.html?va1081917.va1207448@64
  11. ↑ p. 56 http://www.erudit.org/feuilletage/index.html?va1081917.va1207442@72
  12. ↑ p.40 http://www.erudit.org/feuilletage/index.html?va1081917.va1205274@60
  13. ↑ p. 57 http://www.erudit.org/feuilletage/index.html?va1081917.va1201505@64
  14. ↑ p. 73 http://www.erudit.org/feuilletage/index.html?va1081917.va1201514@84
  15. ↑ Michèle Grandbois, "Remerciements" dans Esther Trépanier, Marc-Aurèle Fortin-L'expérence de la couleur, Les Éditions de l'homme, 2011
  16. ↑ Michèle Grandbois, "Acknowledgment" in Morrice and Lyman in the company of Matisse, Firefly books, 2014, p.15
  17. ↑ Montreal on Canvas at Galerie Jean-Pierre Valentin | Vie des Arts
  18. ↑ ISSUU - Molinari by Numérique Archambault Nu/Ar Inc
  19. ↑ ISSUU - Jean Dallaire exposition rétrospective - Retrospective exhibition Jean Dallaire by Numérique Archambault Nu/Ar Inc
  20. ↑ ISSUU - Paul-Émile Borduas exposition rétrospective - Retrospective exhibition Paul-Émile Borduas by Numérique Archambault Nu/Ar Inc
  21. ↑ ISSUU - Lyman by Numérique Archambault Nu/Ar Inc
  22. ↑ p. 97 http://www.erudit.org/culture/va1081917/va1094584/2039ac.pdf
  23. ↑ p. 27 http://www.erudit.org/culture/va1081917/va1098457/52737ac.pdf
  24. ↑ p. 75 http://www.erudit.org/culture/va1081917/va1136289/53176ac.pdf
  25. ↑ ThĂŠrèse Lacasse – IPARCOURS
  26. ↑ http://www.erudit.org/culture/va1081917/va1135953/53148ac.pdf
  27. ↑ "A portrait of a gallery director. Jean-Pierre Valentin. Galerie L'Art français", Magazin'Art, 2e année, n°1, Automne 1989
  28. ↑ Joanne Eidinger, "The business of art. Art finds a chaperone in PADAC" in Montreal Review, September 1981, p. 26
  29. ↑ http://www.ad-ac.ca/AboutADAC.php
  30. ↑ Art. The new world of investment, Merrit fine art seminars, Saturday, November 14, 1981, Montreal
  31. ↑ Canadian Cultural Programmes L.A.E. Inc., Division: History of Canadian Art, Monday april 20, Montreal
  32. ↑ Montreal print collectors society. Newsletter, Vol. 15, n°5, February, 1999

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