Augustin Francois Guille Aka Archiguille, Paris School Cityscape, Circle Of Maurice Utrillo, La Mère Catherine Montmartre (1960)

Mid 20th Century Modern oil on canvas cityscape of Place du Tertre and the Basilica Sacré-Cœur in Montmartre, Paris by Augustin Francois Guille aka Archiguille a close friend and collaborator of Maurice Utrillo and Georges Braque. The painting is signed centre right and also signed, located and dated to the back of the canvas. presented in a plain period wood frame.

La Mère Catherine is an iconic restaurant in la Place du Tertre, Montmartre frequented by all the great artists.

This vibrant painting captures a charming Parisian street scene, drawing viewers into an enchanting blend of urban life and natural beauty. The composition is dominated by a gently winding road flanked by quaint storefronts, including a captivating café with an inviting red awning. The architecture is depicted with meticulous attention to detail, showcasing classic European facades with their distinctive charm. In the background, the iconic dome of Sacré-Cœur rises majestically, anchoring the composition. The trees lining the street are adorned with delicate, almost impressionistic foliage, casting dappled shadows along the path. The palette is rich and textured, with warm earth tones and soft blues that evoke a sense of nostalgia. The interplay of light and shadow adds depth, imbuing the scene with a lively yet serene ambiance. This artwork eloquently captures the essence of a leisurely stroll through a historic Paris neighbourhood.

Archiguille was born in Alès. He spent his childhood in Vendargues in the south of France during World War II under German occupation. Drawn to painting as a means of expression, he began when at school to be fascinated with the letters of the alphabet, which led in turn to forays into the oriental art of calligraphy. 1946-48 he attended the Arts and Crafts Educational Centre, Saint Jodard, Loire. In 1952 he arrived in Paris and worked at the Stamp Atelier. In 1956 he met Georges Braque. In 1957 he had his first sales with Lyrical abstraction work (a synthesis of cubism and fauvism). In 1958 he attended a course by Professor Lemagny, (Prize of Rome for painting), Fine Arts Academy.

Archiguille's first exhibition took place in 1953 at "La Librairie de l'Institut" in Paris. It showcased his passion for calligraphy with drawings of letters and spots of colours on cardboards.

His meeting with Georges Braque in 1956 who advised him to further develop his painting skills and master a wider range of techniques was pivotal for his career's evolution. Without having a thorough grasp of figurative painting, said Braque: "you will never fully learn how to feel your art from deep within". Upon taking his advice, François Guille who was not yet called Archiguille met with Professor Lemagny (Fine Arts Academy) and refined his painting techniques under his tutelage for about two years learning to perfect his craft giving emphasis on drawings of nature and landscapes in the figurative style.

Archiguille's first canvases were much influenced by his friend Maurice Utrillo. In 1965, he held his second exposition at the Bernheim-Jeune gallery in Paris and a first success for Archiguille. His "Transfiguration" technique and avant-garde style was the theme of the art show. In 1969, he held an exhibition at the "Palais de la Radio" with the participation of Hans Hartung who was his teacher until 1968. Archiguille also admired the sensitivity with which Peter Paul Rubens and Jan Vermeer rendered effects of light. He was much influenced by Hartung and Braque who compelled him to figurative painting in order to develop a deeper inner grasp of his art.

« Antiquity, Renaissance, Impressionism, Fauvism, Expressionism… Archiguille had seen it all, had tried it all, had learned from it all. From each school, he caught the savoir-faire and the spirit. It is from this amazing pictorial culture that he has drawn the essence of his work. It is from that universal history that was issued an entirely personal creation which he termed: "Transfiguration". In the years 1958-1967 Archiguille founded the school of Transfiguration in Chicago named after the transfigurative movement he started in the mid-1960s. "Archiguille belongs to the celebrated creators of the 1950s who in that troubled time showed their bright expressive works characterized by new composition and plastic innovations. The use of "transfigurations" made it possible for Archiguille to find his place in fine arts."

« From Jean Cocteau to Françoise Sagan, to Henri Michaux to Jack Lang, artists, writers, poets have acknowledged Archiguille's fine art. In 1968, André Malraux announced him as "the most gifted painter of his generation". His art works can be found in the collections of François Mitterrand, Mme Claude Pompidou, Jacqueline Kennedy, Coco Chanel, Ari Onassis, Barbara Bush, the Emperor of Japan, Sophia Loren, Robert De Niro, Spain's king Juan Carlos, David Rockefeller and Barbra Streisand just to name a few.» His paintings grace some of the most prestigious museums of contemporary art in the world: Paris, New York, Chicago, Houston and Tokyo as well as the Bernheim Jeune-Gallery in Paris, Princeton University, Club 13 and the Parisian Tuileries.

Condition report:

Good. Some losses and wear to frame.