A Village By Maurice Montet (1905-1997) Oil On Canvas

A Village By Maurice Montet (1905-1997) Oil on canvas Dimensions: 46x55 Maurice Montet was a French artist born in 1905 in Roanne. Coming from a modest family, he left school at the age of twelve to work as a maintenance mechanic in local factories. In 1923, he joined the merchant navy, discovering new sources of inspiration for his art. After a brief stint in the navy, Montet became a maintenance mechanic in a furniture fabric factory in 1928. It was there that he explored the art of wrought iron in addition to his painting. In 1928, he married Marguerite Depay, with whom he had seven children. He exhibited his first work in 1930 and became a regular exhibitor at several art fairs in the region. During the Second World War, he worked at the La Mouche arsenal in Lyon and painted scenes of the exodus. In 1944, he became an assistant technical professor and settled in Thizy. His artistic career gained momentum in the 1940s and 1950s, with exhibitions in Paris and other major French cities. It is acquired by important institutions, notably the National Fund for Contemporary Art. Montet was a painter influenced by everyday life, street scenes, circuses, and travelers. He also actively participated in the preservation of the heritage of Thizy and founded the Mathilde Ovize museum. He died in 1997, leaving behind a rich and varied artistic career which left its mark on the art world in France.