Antoine Blanchard French, 1910-1988

Antoine Blanchard was the pseudonym of the French painter Marcel Masson, who became renowned for his atmospheric and nostalgic depictions of Paris. Born on 15 November 1910 in a small village near Blois on the banks of the Loire, Blanchard showed an early aptitude for art. His father was a skilled carver and furniture maker, and watching him work is said to have encouraged the young artist's interest in drawing and sculpture.

Blanchard studied drawing in Blois before continuing his training at the École des Beaux-Arts in Rennes, where he studied drawing and sculpture and was awarded the school's Prix du Ministre. In 1932 he moved to Paris to continue his studies at the École des Beaux-Arts. It was here that he developed a lasting fascination with the capital and its architecture, streets and everyday life.

From the late 1950s onwards, Blanchard devoted much of his career to recreating the Paris of the Belle Époque and turn of the century. His paintings feature many of the city's most recognisable landmarks, including the Arc de Triomphe, Notre-Dame, the Madeleine, the Opéra and the Café de la Paix, often populated with elegantly dressed pedestrians, horse-drawn carriages and bustling street markets.

His work is characterised by delicate, lively brushwork and a soft, atmospheric palette. Rather than simply documenting Paris, Blanchard created an evocative vision of the city, capturing the romance and movement of its streets in changing seasons and weather. His paintings are often compared with those of Édouard Cortès and Eugène Galien-Laloue, although Blanchard developed a distinctive style of his own, with smaller, more delicate brushstrokes and a gentle, impressionistic treatment.

Blanchard exhibited regularly and enjoyed considerable success during his lifetime. In 1979, his painting of the Café de la Paix was awarded the Grand Prix du Public in a competition organised by the Café itself. His work subsequently became popular with collectors in both Europe and the United States.

Antoine Blanchard continued to paint throughout his life and died in Paris on 10 August 1988. Today, his atmospheric views of historic Paris remain highly sought after for their combination of Impressionistic technique, architectural detail and nostalgic charm.