Fontainebleau Fine Art

“Fleur de Tournesol dans un Vase” (A Sunflower in a Vase) by Francis Montanier (French, 1885-1974) Circa 1956

“Fleur de Tournesol dans un Vase” (A Sunflower in a Vase) – 1956

Dry point signed and dated Montanier 56, lower left

Gouache and pastel on wove paper – Excellent condition, no foxing, no toning, no molding, perfect color retention

13 ½ x 9 ½ in                         (34 x 24 cm)                         

21 ¼ x 17 ½ in   with frame   (54 x 44 cm)  

Beautiful custom-made, handcrafted, diamond shape, silver-leafed original French frame

After WWI interrupted Montanier's artistic training in Lyon, the multitalented artist came back to work as a painter, a stained glass maker and a goldsmith. When awarded the "Prix de Paris", Montanier settled in the capital to devote himself entirely to painting. In Paris, Montanier developed a friendship with the famous modern artist André Derain who gave him his studio near the Montsouris Park. He also became very close to the cubist artist Georges Braque.

Montanier’s early works were figurative but after WWII when he was mobilized again, he turned towards a sensitive and harmonious abstraction. While always retaining a connection with the reality of forms and colors, Montanier transposed his subject matter into its essence in a solid, firm style.

This work, “Fleur de Tournesol dans un Vase”, 1956, is a perfect example of that transition in style.

It is still indebted from the artist’s early career as a stained glass maker, as displayed in the bursting colors as well as the heavily outlined forms; this work also shows the cubism of his friend Braque and the new found influences from Matisse.

• Museums: Some of the artist’s paintings can be seen in:

- France at the Museum of Art and History of Meudon and in Paris at the Musée des Arts Modernes and the Centre Pompidou (Beaubourg).

- Abroad in Santiago, Dublin…

• Literature:

- Benezit: Dictionnaire des Peintres, 1999

- Davenport’s Art Reference Guide, 2003/2004

- Joseph-Emile Muller: L'Art Moderne, Paris 1963

- Frank Elgar: La Peinture Abstraite Moderne, Paris1965

- Somogy: Art et Non-Art, Paris 1970

• Exhibitions:

- Montanier had his first solo exhibition in Paris in 1939, followed by many others, at the Jeanne Castel Gallery, famous for having discovered so many, soon-to-be recognized talents. His success travelled abroad to The Hague, New York, 1947; Warsaw, 1948; Berlin 1950 and 63; Sao Paulo, 1951; London, 1954; Buenos Aires, 1959; Tokyo, 1973.

- After his death, he was honored with many retrospectives of his work:

Musée du Havre, 1974; Musée du Luxembourg, Paris 1976; Musée d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris, 1978; Château du Musée de Dieppe, 1994.