Maurice Martin (1894 -1978) - Lake Of Gaube And Vignemale - Pyrenees (1953) Oil/panel 24x19 Cm

Maurice MARTIN (Mormant 1894 - Paris 1978) "Le lac de Gaube et le Vignemale" (1953) Oil on panel signed lower left and located on the back H: 24.0 cm x L: 19.0 cm Biography of Maurice Martin, French landscape painter: Maurice Martin was born in 1894 in Mormant, where he spent his entire childhood. A gifted schoolboy, he spent his free time drawing. His father had him work in the family building painting business. The family moved to Paris around 1910 and the young painter continued to work there until 1914, regretting not being able to study at the Beaux-Arts. Called up in August 1914 to Lisieux for military training, he left for the front three months later. Long wounded, he returned to his regiment in Lisieux in 1917. Throughout his professional life, he devoted his free time to frequenting painting studios, including the studio of the Grande Chaumière and that of Pierre-Gaston Rigaud. Like Alfred Sisley, then Pierre Eugène Montézin, whom he often met, he was inspired by the Loing Valley, the Île-de-France and Touraine. Maurice Martin began painting in Vendômois around 1925 and returned regularly. He set up his easel in Troo, Saint-Jacques-des-Guérets, Montoire and especially in Lavardin where he owned a house. Painter friends joined him there. From 1932 onwards, he exhibited at the Salon des indépendants, the Salon d'automne, and especially the Salon des artistes français. He took part in the Salon de la Marine and the Salon Comparaisons. In 1936, he received an honorable mention at the Salon des Artistes français for Le Quai des laveuses à 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 received 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 Morocco Prize, in 1960 that of Madagascar and that of Tunisia in 1969. Beyond these numerous awards, he also received scholarships that allowed him to 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 there until the end.