Nicolas Markovitch (1894-1964) - Paris: Construction Sites Under The Pont Marie

- Watercolor.- Nicolas Markovitch was an artist of Serbian-French origin, primarily recognized for his work as a watercolorist, architect, and engraver. Throughout his career, he used various pseudonyms, including A. Marc or simply Marc, as well as J. Philippe or Jean Philippe. Some sources mistakenly mention other pseudonyms, such as André Marc or André Marc Rothenburg, which do not correspond to the artist. Trained as an architect and based in France, Markovitch became known for his architectural depictions of urban buildings, cathedrals, and monuments, as well as his urban and natural landscapes of Switzerland, Italy, Germany, England, and Belgium. His work also includes seascapes, lake scenes, and views of American cities, including New York and cities such as Gloucester, Massachusetts. Between the late 1920s and early 1940s, Markovitch illustrated various publications in watercolor published in Paris by Éditions Alpina, signing his real name, Nicolas Markovitch or N. Markovitch. Considered one of the greatest watercolorists of his time, he also developed a fruitful collaboration with the Swiss house Stehli Frères, Éditeurs (Zurich) in the 1930s and 1940s. This publisher published multiple series of the artist's watercolors, reproduced in various formats, generally ranging from 23 x 30 cm to 30 x 40 cm, although larger editions of up to 46 x 61 cm were also produced. Markovitch clearly differentiated the authorship of his works according to the medium: his original watercolors, intended for art or illustration, were always signed with his real name, while the chromolithographic reproductions of landscapes and architectural series appeared under the pseudonym A. Marc or Marc. For his floral arrangements and botanical motifs, he used the pseudonym Jean Philippe or J. Philippe. While his watercolors may have initially been seen as a complement to his work as an architect in France, or even as a personal hobby, they eventually became a considerable source of income thanks to book illustrations and published lithographs. His output is distinguished by remarkable technical and artistic mastery, particularly in his architectural series, characterized by a great mastery of composition and a harmonious use of color. Markovitch's lithographs, distributed internationally, were very successful and remain highly sought after by collectors today. Before the outbreak of World War II, Markovitch lived in Figeac, a small town in southwestern France. During the war, he was deported to Slovakia and then transferred to a labor camp in Povrly (then Pömmerle), in what is now the Czech Republic. He remained a prisoner there for two years until his release at the end of the war, where he returned in an extremely weak state, weighing barely 35 kilos. After his release, he returned to live in Figeac, where he painted numerous views of the town and its surroundings. Nicolas Markovitch finally died in 1964 in Bourg-la-Reine, a commune located south of Paris. - Dimensions of the unframed image: 26 x 22 cm / 44 x 40 cm, magnificent antique frame of classical inspiration. - Galerie Montbaron includes a technical sheet prepared by a certified art historian for each lot. This form is sent in digital format and upon request.