Édouard Georges Mac-Avoy (born 25 January 1905 – 26 September 1991) was a French artist and portraitist.

Biography

Studies

Mac-Avoy's family descended from an Irish Catholic family that emigrated to France in the 17th century . Through his mother, Hélène de Cazalet, he also descended from a family of Huguenots from the Cévennes. Mac-Avoy studied in Switzerland where he received his baccalauréat. His artistic talent caused a brief hesitation between theatre and painting, but having chosen the latter, he entered the

Académie Julian The Académie Julian () was a private art school for painting and sculpture founded in Paris, France, in 1867 by French painter and teacher Rodolphe Julian (1839–1907) that was active from 1868 through 1968. It remained famous for the number a ...

at the age of 18 and studied there with

Paul Albert Laurens Paul Albert Laurens (18 January 1870 - 27 September 1934) was a French painter. Biography Laurens was the eldest son of painter Jean-Paul Laurens (1838-1921), who was of humble origins, and his wife, Madeleine Willemsens (1848-1913). Laurens wa ...

. In Paris, he frequented the house of Félix Vallotton and met Bonnard and Vuillard who showed an interest in his work.

Career

Mac-Avoy sold his first painting to the government when he was only 19 years old. It was exhibited at the Musée du Luxembourg. He then branched out into landscapes, urban scenes and portraits, before devoting himself almost exclusively to the latter genre. At the Salon des Tuileries, in 1936, he exhibited only portraits in a style so distinctive and discordant to current fashions that he was compared to a Philippe de Champaigne. In 1939, he married Anne Coquebert de Neuville, with whom he had three children. When the Second World War broke out, he was mobilized and joined the 5th Division of Motorized Infantry. Mac-Avoy received the

Croix de guerre 1939-1945 Croix (French for "cross") may refer to: Belgium * Croix-lez-Rouveroy, a village in municipality of Estinnes in the province of Hainaut France * Croix, Nord, in the Nord department * Croix, Territoire de Belfort, in the Territoire de Belfort depa ...

and his experience of war is said to have influenced his style. Mac-Avoy made portraits of many writers, artists and politicians including André Gide, Pierre Larousse, Honegger, Mauriac,

Picasso Pablo Ruiz Picasso (25 October 1881 – 8 April 1973) was a Spanish painter, sculptor, printmaker, ceramicist and Scenic design, theatre designer who spent most of his adult life in France. One of the most influential artists of the 20th ce ...

, de Gaulle, Béjart, and Johnny Hallyday. A friend of Henry de Montherlant, he illustrated several of that writer's luxury editions including ''La relève du Matin'' in 1952, '' La Ville dont le prince est un enfant'' in 1961 and ''Les Garçons'' in 1973. Mac-Avoy's Paris studio was located at 102, , in the

6th arrondissement The 6th arrondissement of Paris (''VIe arrondissement'') is one of the 20 Arrondissements of Paris, arrondissements of the capital city of France. In spoken French, it is referred to as ''le sixième''. The arrondissement, called Luxembourg in ...

. For a time he was a teacher at the Académie de la Grande Chaumière.

Prizes and distinctions

* 1963: Grand Prix des peintres témoins de leur temps * Président du Salon d'automne de Paris (succeeds Yves Brayer) * 1989:

Prix Ève Delacroix Le prix Ève-Delacroix is one of the prizes bestowed by the Académie française. The award which was established in 1977 by the Ève-Delacroix foundation is intended "for the author of a work (essay or novel) combining literary qualities with the m ...

* Officier

Ordre des Arts et des Lettres The ''Ordre des Arts et des Lettres'' (Order of Arts and Letters) is an order of France established on 2 May 1957 by the Minister of Culture. Its supplementary status to the was confirmed by President Charles de Gaulle in 1963. Its purpose is ...

* Officier of the Légion d'honneur

Students

* . * Diane Esmond

Sources

Bibliography

* Edouard Mac'Avoy, ''Le plus clair de mon temps : 1926-1987'', Paris, Ramsay, 1988 ,

of the Académie française.Prix Ève-Delacroix
on the site of the Académie française * Hackley Art Museum, ''Mac Avoy'', Muskegon, Hackley Art Museum, 1985 * Rodolphe Pailliez, ''Mac Avoy'', Paris, Éditions de Nesle, 1979 * Galerie Motte, ''Mac'Avoy'', Geneva, Galerie Motte, 1958