Who is the French artist Marius Girard?

                                                     William Girard (L) & Marius Girard (R)
                                                      A Girard original painting is on wall.                                                     


BIOGRAPHY OF MARIUS GIRARD  (c) 2012 by B.C. Edwards

There is very little information about Marius Girard online.  A woman who owns an original Girard painting sent me a copy of a newspaper interview with Girard from 1972.  The photograph of Marius Girard and his nephew William Girard was taken from the article.  There are many of Girard's paintings online.  Search Google for "Marius Girard"  and then click image section. 

Marius Girard was born in Rheims, France, probably in 1927, but perhaps in 1926.  He attended regular school and college until age 19, then studied at several art academies.  His only occupation has been as an artist.  He owns a home (condominium) on a street named Rue St. Rustique in Paris.

Girard is famous for painting impressionistic scenes of  Paris.  He has an extraordinary ability with color.  Some paintings are reproduced for prints and postcards.  He is one of the world's most reproduced artists.   In 1972, one of his postcards had been selling for over 15 years.  Girard did 135 watercolor paintings for the lobby and rooms of the Hotel Hilton in Paris. 

Girard sold his original oils and watercolors on the streets of Montmartre (Paris).   This is a district of Paris, in the northern part, noted for its cafes and as an artists' quarter.  In the online chat rooms there are several accounts of people who bought artwork directly from Girard in the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s.  During Girard's first visit to the United States and Canada in 1972-73, he might have done some paintings of North American scenes. 

Girard paints outdoors directly from the scene.  To begin a watercolor painting, Girard sketches in the basic lines with a stick dipped in ink or dark paint.  He uses popsicle or other sticks which he sharpens with a knife.  His style stresses linear effects.  Lines range from thin to thick.  Various textures and shadows are created with the stick.  After this stage has been completed, he works with watercolor paints applied with brushes.  Girard does watercolor paintings on a "special cardboard."  Perhaps he meant heavy-weight watercolor paper or illustration board.  Girard paints more watercolors than oils.  He said his technique is different for oil painting.

There are numerous listings for Girard on various auction sites, but records are usually available only to members.  Many original paintings and reproductions have been sold through auction houses.  On www.artprice.com there were seven paintings listed.  At www.goantiques.com an original watercolor painting was priced at $1,000.  Image size is 15 X 20" and date is 1950s or 1960s.  He has also done gouache (opaque watercolor) paintings.  There are auction records for original pen and ink drawings.

Online listings for unframed prints by Girard range from $1.00 to $7.00 each.  Framed prints are listed for around $8.00 to $10.00 each.  The value of a framed print with a double mat may be from $25 to $40.  One source said the lithographs may be worth $25 to $100 each.  Prices are less at stores selling used merchandise such as Goodwill.  A postcard from the 1950s or 1960s, was priced online at $12.00.

Most of Girard's prints are lithographs.  Although the signature and title under each print appear to be original handwriting in pencil, they are printed as part of the lithograph.  I have three lithographed art prints by Girard.  They are printed on heavy paper with a slight texture.  When I tried to erase part of the pencil writing, I found that it could not be erased. 

Marius Girard is listed in "Dictionary of Painters of Montmartre," editor Andre Roussard.  The book contains bios of 4,285 artists for the years 1800-1999.  It is online at www.roussard.com. 
http://www.roussard.com/detaildicopeintre.html#Anchor-44867

The newspaper article is from Lorain, Ohio, in Lorain County.  Date of Sunday, November 19, 1972.  Title "Postcards Made Him Rich."  Girard was age 45 at the time of this interview.  He was not married.  William Girard was age 18 at the time of this interview.  He was not married.

If you have more information, please use the comment section.  Numerous people are searching for information about Girard.
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(c) 2012 by B. C. Edwards -- http://newandoldvarietyblog.blogspot.com/ 
You have permission to copy this article for reference purposes only or to attach to Marius Girard artwork.  If you wish to publish this article, you will need written permission for its publication.