Watercolour painting depicting a Napoleonic scene. Circa 1910. Handwritten artist's note in French in the lower right corner: "French Infantry and Light Cavalry of the Eighth Corps, 1813"
French illustrator, painter and draughtsman, Georges Tiret-Bognet was born on January 15, 1855 in Saint-Servan-sur-Mer. He was the fourth child of Charles Tiret-Bognet and his wife Amélie Marie Dereix. At sixteen, one of his drawings - the Arrest of Rossel - was reproduced as a lithograph in the press. Exempted from military service by the drawing of lots, he was admitted to the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris. As a draughtsman and member of the Hydropathes, Tiret-Bognet became a well-known figure in Montmartre.
He took board at La Belle Gabrielle, a café run by Marie Vizier, along with Maurice Utrillo and Jules Depaquit. It was in the district of Goutte-d'Or that he spent his life in misery. Utrillo admired him and asked him to illustrate his autobiography. He said of his friend: "He is the greatest living painter"! Tiret-Bognet replied: "What you are doing is very odd. Work Maurice, you will become amazing!”
He married Marie Favrot in Montmartre, and then moved to 17, rue Cavé in Paris with his wife. He was the author of military scenes, drawings for the Quantin House of Épinal imagery, and illustrated books for Jules Verne, Georges Le Faure and Jean Drault. He also has a humorous cartoonist career in illustrated newspapers such as Le chat noir, L’Ouvrier, Le Rire or Le Triboulet. Georges Tiret-Bognet died in misery on October 15, 1935 in Paris. He is buried in the Père-Lachaise Cemetery (45th Division).
Works in public collections: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York; National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa; National Library of France, Paris; Museum of comics, Angoulême.
Sources: Benezit, Wikipedia, Thierry Engels (2016), Geneanet.
Artist: Georges Tiret-Bognet (1855-1935).
Signed lower right.
Medium: Watercolour on paper.
Condition: Good condition.
Dimensions: 35 x 50 cm. / 14 x 20 in.
Frame: 46 x 60 cm. / 18 x 24 in. Black and gilt wood frame.
Origin: France.