Maurice Martin (1894-1978), The Provençal Lavoir, Oil On Panel, Signed, Framed

"Maurice Martin (1894-1978), The Provençal wash house, Oil on panel signed, Framed. Painting cleaned by a professional. Maurice Martin was in Mormant in 1894 where he spent his entire childhood. A gifted schoolboy, he spent his free time drawing. His father made him work in the family building painting business. The family then moved to Paris around 1910 and the young painter continued to work in his father's business until 1914, regretting not being able to study at the Beaux Arts. . Called to Lisieux in August 1914 for military preparation, he left for the front three months later. Wounded in the left arm, he was mentioned three times in the order of the regiment and its army corps in Verdun. Hospitalized in Lyon, he spent his convalescence painting and drawing. In 1917 he returned to the regiment in Lisieux, a city where he painted the old streets and the Rue aux fèves in particular. From 1919 to 1922, he created his own company in the disaster areas then in 1922, he returned to Paris where he married Marguerite Boisset with whom he had two children. Throughout his professional life, he devoted his available time to attending painting workshops, among others the Grande Chaumière workshop and that of Pierre-Gaston Rigaud. From 1932 he exhibited at the Salon des Indépendants, the Salon d'Automne, and especially at the Salon des Artistes Français. He participates in the Salon de la Marine and the Salon Comparisons. In 1936, he obtained an honorable mention at the Salon des Artistes français for Le Quai des laveuses in Moret as well as the Paul Liot Prize and in 1942 a silver medal at the same salon. In 1946, still at this Salon, he won the Gold Medal as well as the Corot Prize and the Rosa Bonheur Prize. In 1950, the year from which he devoted himself fully to his art, he received the Moroccan prize, in 1960 that of Madagascar and that of Tunisia in 1969. Beyond these numerous rewards, he also received scholarships which will allow work in the countries concerned in 1951 in Morocco, from December to June 1961 in Madagascar and in 1969 in Tunisia. He died in Paris in 1978 after having worked until the end in fear of infirmity which would prevent him from expressing himself pictorially. It is exhibited in numerous French and foreign museums. He received multiple distinctions throughout his career: Winner of the Salon of French Artists, the Salon d'Automne, the Salon des Indépendants, the Salon de la Marine Member of the Committee and Vice-President of the Salon d'Hiver Member of the Jury and the Committee of French Artists from 1968 to 1978 Knight of the Legion of Honor for Fine Arts Officer of Public Education French Landscape Designers Prize Sèvres Vase offered by the President of the Republic Gold Medal at the Fontainebleau salons , Juvisy, Asnières, Troyes, Nemours Medal of Honor at the Clichy Salon 1936: Honorable Mention at the French Artists Salon for the Quai des Laveuses in Moret Paul Liot Prize 1943: Landscapers Prize 1942: Silver Medal at the Artists Salon French 1946: Gold medal at the same Salon Prix Corot 1950: Morocco prize and travel grant in 1951 1955: Silver medal from the City of Paris 1956: Gold medal Salon des Artistes français 1960: Medal of the general council de la Seine 1960: Madagascar Prize and travel grant 1969: Tunisia Prize 1969 1970: Rosa Bonheur Prize