RENE THOMSEN July 20, 1897 in Paris – July 28, 1976 at VERSAILLES
René Thomsen was very encouraged from his beginnings in 1920, by Louis Vauxelles, Elie Faure and Joachim Gasquet, the poet friend of Cézanne, who died as a result of the war in 1921- René Thomsen himself, seriously gassed, was only able to pick up his brushes again in 1920. The elders: H. de Waroquier, M. Asselin, G. d'Espagnat, A. Derain, bought or exchanged for theirs, his first works. Later, Albert André acquired a painting, in his workshop, for his museum in Bagnols s/cèze. In 1921, René Thomsen was appointed member of the autumn salon. With painters from the previous generation, he held several group exhibitions. Several successes at various salons attracted the attention of the Marcel Bernheim and Durand-ruel galleries, with whom he signed an exclusive contract in 1926, then around 1927, an exhibition of watercolors, organized by C. by Hanke. That same year, the State bought from him a painting exhibited at the independent artists' show: “Villeneuve lez Avignon” which will be attributed to the Luxembourg Museum. In turn from 1927 to 1951, several museums and the State acquired his works, for example the order for the Versailles museum of a painting representing the funeral of President Paul Painlevé 1934 – as well as the order of a portrait of the same president for the air ministry. We must also remember the orangery exhibition organized by the city of Paris and Mr. J. Cassou, the curator of the modern art museum, where an important painting by our painter appeared in the center of a panel facing a painting by Vuillard, who had just died. An exhibition of watercolors in Basel in 1952, in which the painter had already hinted at the new vision he now had. In 1957, a major exhibition at the Marcel Bernheim gallery - Then the painter let his creative force express itself freely through new works. Prize of Spain 1932 – Prize of England 1936 – Prize of Morocco 1937. Gold medal for painting, awarded by the city of Versailles, shortly before his death in 1976. - National Museum of Modern Art: * Voulx 1928 * Salamanca Cathedral 1932 * Young woman in an old bodice 1943 - Louvre Museum: * View of a room in the Louvre. - Air and Space Museum: * Portrait of President Paul Painlevé 1934 - Versailles Palace Museum: * Funeral of President Paul Painlevé 1934 * Two copies, executed in 1936 and sent to the maritime prefecture hotel of Toulon: ° Portrait of the Count of Vermandois (1667-1683). ° Portrait of the Duke of Vivonne (1636-1688). These two copies were unfortunately destroyed during the last war. - Toulouse Lautrec Museum in Albi: * St Etienne sur Bailleul 1940 * Young girl reading 1938 - A. Malraux Museum of Fine Arts in Le Havre: * Landscape of London (the Thames) 1937 - Bagnols sur Cèze Museum: * Street at l 'Isle Adam. * Portrait of a young girl. *Self-portrait.