Guy de Montlaur

Infobox
title = Guy de Montlaur


caption = Autoportrait sans indulgence

Guy de Villardi comte 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 Commando" (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.

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.

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.

External links

* [http://www.montlaur.net/en/Home.html Website Montlaur]

Persondata
NAME = de Montlaur, Guy
ALTERNATIVE NAMES = de Villardi, Guy, Comte de Montlaur
SHORT DESCRIPTION = French painter
DATE OF BIRTH = 9 September, 1918
PLACE OF BIRTH = Biarritz, France
DATE OF DEATH = 10 August, 1977
PLACE OF DEATH = Garches, France