Guy de Montlaur
Encyclopedia
Guy de Villardi de Montlaur (9 September 1918, Biarritz
—10 August 1977, Garches
) was a French artist and soldier. His family originates 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).
As a young man Montlaur studied philosophy at the Sorbonne
, and painting at the Académie Julian
. He worked with Emmanuel Fougerat and Jean Souverbie.
In 1938 he was conscripted for military service, and was posted on the German border when war was declared. After the battle of France
, he reached England to join the Free French
, and his unit - the 1er Bataillon de Fusiliers Marins Commandos
(in which he served as a 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
. He also took part in the assault on Flushing
(Valcheren
) on 1 November 1944. Montlaur had received seven citations and the French Légion d'honneur
by the age of 25.
After the war Montlaur worked at the Art Students League of New York
from 1947–1949, and exhibited his work regularly in Paris thereafter. Initially an exponent of Cubism
, he later matured into a more Expressionist
style.
Biarritz
Biarritz is a city which lies on the Bay of Biscay, on the Atlantic coast, in south-western France. It is a luxurious seaside town and is popular with tourists and surfers....
—10 August 1977, Garches
Garches
Garches is a commune in the western suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the centre of Paris.Garches has remained largely residential, but is also the location of the Hôpital Raymond Poincaré , which specialises in traumatology, road accidents and physiotherapy.-19 January Monument:The...
) was a French artist and soldier. His family originates from Montlaur (Hérault), a 10th century castle north of Montpellier
Montpellier
-Neighbourhoods:Since 2001, Montpellier has been divided into seven official neighbourhoods, themselves divided into sub-neighbourhoods. Each of them possesses a neighbourhood council....
in the Languedoc
Languedoc
Languedoc is a former province of France, now continued in the modern-day régions of Languedoc-Roussillon and Midi-Pyrénées in the south of France, and whose capital city was Toulouse, now in Midi-Pyrénées. It had an area of approximately 42,700 km² .-Geographical Extent:The traditional...
country. His ancestor Bernard II de Montlaur, Lord of Vailhauquès
Vailhauquès
Vailhauquès is a commune in the Hérault department in Languedoc-Roussillon in southern France.-References:...
, had fought with Raymond IV of Toulouse
Raymond IV of Toulouse
Raymond IV of Toulouse , sometimes called Raymond of St Gilles, was Count of Toulouse, Duke of Narbonne, and Margrave of Provence and one of the leaders of the First Crusade. He was a son of Pons of Toulouse and Almodis de La Marche...
in the First Crusade
First Crusade
The First Crusade was a military expedition by Western Christianity to regain the Holy Lands taken in the Muslim conquest of the Levant, ultimately resulting in the recapture of Jerusalem...
(1096–1099).
As a young man Montlaur studied philosophy at the Sorbonne
Sorbonne
The Sorbonne is an edifice of the Latin Quarter, in Paris, France, which has been the historical house of the former University of Paris...
, and painting at the Académie Julian
Académie Julian
The Académie Julian was an art school in Paris, France.Rodolphe Julian established the Académie Julian in 1868 at the Passage des Panoramas, as a private studio school for art students. The Académie Julian not only prepared students to the exams at the prestigious École des Beaux-Arts, but offered...
. He worked with Emmanuel Fougerat and Jean Souverbie.
In 1938 he was conscripted for military service, and was posted on the German border when war was declared. After the battle of France
Battle of France
In the Second World War, the Battle of France was the German invasion of France and the Low Countries, beginning on 10 May 1940, which ended the Phoney War. The battle consisted of two main operations. In the first, Fall Gelb , German armoured units pushed through the Ardennes, to cut off and...
, he reached England to join the Free French
Free French Forces
The Free French Forces were French partisans in World War II who decided to continue fighting against the forces of the Axis powers after the surrender of France and subsequent German occupation and, in the case of Vichy France, collaboration with the Germans.-Definition:In many sources, Free...
, and his unit - the 1er Bataillon de Fusiliers Marins Commandos
1er Bataillon de Fusiliers Marins Commandos
1er Bataillon de Fusiliers Marins Commandos was a Fusiliers Marins commando unit of the Free French Navy which served during the Second World War...
(in which he served as a Sergeant
Sergeant
Sergeant is a rank used in some form by most militaries, police forces, and other uniformed organizations around the world. Its origins are the Latin serviens, "one who serves", through the French term Sergent....
) - was attached to No. 4 Commando of Lord Lovat's
Simon Fraser, 15th Lord Lovat
Brigadier Simon Christopher Joseph Fraser, 15th Lord Lovat and 4th Baron Lovat DSO, MC, TD was the 25th Chief of the Clan Fraser and a prominent British Commando during the Second World War...
1st Special Service Brigade for the invasion of Normandy on 6 June 1944, landing at Ouistreham
Ouistreham
Ouistreham is a commune in the Calvados department' in the Basse-Normandie region in northwestern France.Ouistreham is a small port with fishing boats, leisure craft and a ferry-harbour. It serves as the port of the city of Caen. The town is about the mouth of the Canal de Caen à la...
. He also took part in the assault on Flushing
Flushing, Netherlands
Vlissingen is a municipality and a city in the southwestern Netherlands on the former island of Walcheren. With its strategic location between the Scheldt river and the North Sea, Vlissingen has been an important harbour for centuries. It was granted city rights in 1315. In the 17th century...
(Valcheren
Walcheren
thumb|right|250px|Campveer Tower in Veere, built in 1500Walcheren is a former island in the province of Zeeland in the Netherlands at the mouth of the Scheldt estuary. It lies between the Oosterschelde in the north and the Westerschelde in the south and is roughly the shape of a rhombus...
) on 1 November 1944. Montlaur had received seven citations and the French Légion d'honneur
Légion d'honneur
The Legion of Honour, or in full the National Order of the Legion of Honour is a French order established by Napoleon Bonaparte, First Consul of the Consulat which succeeded to the First Republic, on 19 May 1802...
by the age of 25.
After the war Montlaur worked at the Art Students League of New York
Art Students League of New York
The Art Students League of New York is an art school located on West 57th Street in New York City. The League has historically been known for its broad appeal to both amateurs and professional artists, and has maintained for over 130 years a tradition of offering reasonably priced classes on a...
from 1947–1949, and exhibited his work regularly in Paris thereafter. Initially an exponent of Cubism
Cubism
Cubism was a 20th century avant-garde art movement, pioneered by Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque, that revolutionized European painting and sculpture, and inspired related movements in music, literature and architecture...
, he later matured into a more Expressionist
Expressionism
Expressionism was a modernist movement, initially in poetry and painting, originating in Germany at the beginning of the 20th century. Its typical trait is to present the world solely from a subjective perspective, distorting it radically for emotional effect in order to evoke moods or ideas...
style.
Exhibitions
- 1949 : exhibition at the Galerie Lucienne-Léonce Rosenberg, Paris.
- 1949-1950 : Salon des Surindépendants in Paris.
- 1951 and 1954 : exhibition at the Galerie Colette Allendy, Paris.
- 1950-1958 : Salon des Réalités Nouvelles in Paris.
- 1970 : exhibition at the Galerie Rolf Lutz, Paris.