Guy de Montlaur

Guy de Villardi de Montlaur (9 September 1918, Biarritz&mdash;10 August 1977, Garches) was a French artist and soldier. His family originated from Montlaur (Hérault), a 10th-century castle north of Montpellier in the Languedoc country. His ancestor Bernard II de Montlaur, Lord of Vailhauquès, had fought with Raymond IV of Toulouse in the First Crusade (1096–1099).

As a young man Montlaur studied philosophy at the Sorbonne, and painting at the Académie Julian from 1936-1938. He worked with Emmanuel Fougerat and Jean Souverbie.

In October 1938 he was conscripted for military service, serving in the 3e Régiment de Hussards. He was a member of the 15è Groupe de Reconnaissance de Corps d’Armée initially based at Sarreguemines on the German border during the battle of France. He eventually left France, travelling to England via Lisbon to join the Free French in October 1942. His unit – the 1er Bataillon de Fusiliers Marins Commandos, in which he served as a Second-Maître (Sergeant) – was attached to No. 4 Commando of Lord Lovat's 1st Special Service Brigade for the invasion of Normandy on 6 June 1944, landing at Ouistreham. He also took part in the assault on the Dutch island of Walcheren ("Operation Infatuate") on 1 November 1944, having been commissioned at a lieutenant. Montlaur received seven citations and the French légion d'honneur by the age of 25.

After the war Montlaur worked at the Art Students League of New York from 1947–1949, and exhibited his work regularly in Paris thereafter. Initially an exponent of Cubism, he later matured into a more Expressionist style.

Montlaur is buried at the military cemetery at Ranville, Normandy.

In the 1962 film The Longest Day he was played by Georges Rivière.

Exhibitions

 * 1937 : Salon des Artistes Français, Paris.
 * 1949 : Galerie Lucienne-Léonce Rosenberg, Paris.
 * 1949-1950 : Salon des Surindépendants, Paris.
 * 1951 and 1954 : Galerie Colette Allendy, Paris.
 * 1951 : 3rd Exhibition Art Club, Hotel Negresco, Nice.
 * 1950-1958 : Salon des Réalités Nouvelles, Paris.
 * 1959 : Comité France-Amérique, Paris.
 * 1971 : Galerie Rolf Lutz, Paris.
 * 1994 : French Embassy, Washington, D.C.
 * 1994 : Montgomery Gallery, San Francisco.
 * 2012 : Memorial Pegasus and Ranville City Hall Library, Normandy, France, from 2 to 30 June.
 * 2012 : Chateau de La Thibaudière Orangery, Anjou, France, National Heritage Day, 15 & 16 September.
 * 2013 : Chateau de Montlaur, Hérault, France, March 30, 31, April 1, 6 and 7.