SwissArtGallery · Documented identity

Pierre Letellier

Born : 1928Died : 2000Documented citizenships : France

Pierre Letellier, a French painter born in 1928 and who died in 2000, developed a practice that moved from painting to illustration and printmaking, and also extended to photography and writing. His books bear witness to this diversity: he illustrated texts by Maurice Genevoix and Jean Giono, created a lithographic series on the female body, and later published books devoted to animals, some of which combine his own images and texts. He began attending evening classes at the École des beaux-arts de Caen in 1942. From 1947, his travels took him notably to Switzerland and Venice; the following year, he presented his first solo exhibition at the Galerie Alleaume in Caen. In 1956, he decorated the bar of the Hôtel de Than and made stained-glass windows for churches in Calvados. In 1959, he exhibited for the first time in Paris, at the Galerie d’Atri, and in Caracas, at the Galerie Acquavella. His publishing work unfolded over the years: La Loire, Agnès et les garçons by Maurice Genevoix was published in a deluxe edition in 1964, followed by Terre d’Or by Jean Giono in 1967. In 1965, Suite nue brought together lithographs devoted to the female body. For Animaux d’Afrique, published in 1972, Letellier took the photographs himself and wrote the texts; in 1977, he produced a book illustrated with drypoint engravings based on Histoires naturelles by Jules Renard. His Premier Bestiaire was published in 1993, received the prix François Sommer and also includes texts by the artist.

The exhibitions bring several themes in his work into view. In 1970, he presented pastels at the Galerie d’art Matignon in Paris; in 1972, an exhibition at the Maison de la chasse et de la nature was devoted to « La Légende de Diane ». The exhibition Attitudes, held in Paris in 1980, brought together pastels on classical and contemporary dance, with dancers from the Crazy Horse Saloon. The gallery’s chronology places his move to Villars-sur-Ollon in 1975, followed by his move to Villeneuve, on the shore of Lake Geneva, in 1988. In 1987, he exhibited at the Galerie du Théâtre in Geneva and at the Musée d’ethnographie de Neuchâtel. A first retrospective exhibition was held at the Conseil régional in Caen in 1995. Museums and public institutions cited as holding his works include the Musée de Caen, the Musée national d’art moderne, the Musée d’art moderne de la Ville de Paris and the Musée de la Maison de la chasse et de la nature.

This profile brings together identity references for Pierre Letellier and paintings, drawings and works on paper documented in auction catalogues.

Documented auction references

6auction references

3auction houses

5documented results with prices

Dobiaschofsky · Genève Enchères · Piguet

References include catalogue entries and available results; they do not all represent completed sales. Attributed works and special lots are excluded from the priced results.

Works recorded at auction

Photograph : Dobiaschofsky · Enlarge image ↗

Dobiaschofsky · Lot 2211

Marais.

Oil on canvas

Original catalogue wording

Marais.
Öl auf Leinwand

Catalogue period : 2022-05-07

Published result : 80 CHF

Fees not specified in the available data

Estimate : CHF 250

View the lot at the auction house ↗

Photograph : Genève Enchères · Enlarge image ↗

Genève Enchères · Lot 959

Jeune femme nue de dos

Oil on canvas

Original catalogue wording

Jeune femme nue de dos
huile sur toile

Catalogue period : 2016-12-15

Catalogue reference — sale not confirmed

Estimate : CHF 400–600

View the lot at the auction house ↗

Dobiaschofsky · Lot 3549

Autumn landscape with birds.

Oil on painting board

Original catalogue wording

Herbstliche Landschaft mit Vögeln.
Öl auf Mkt

Date to be documented

Published result : 550 CHF

Fees not specified in the available data

Estimate : CHF 900

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Photograph : Piguet · Enlarge image ↗

Piguet

Les trois barques à quai,

Oil on canvas

Original catalogue wording

Les trois barques à quai,
huile sur toile

Catalogue period : 2013-09-30

Published result : 90 CHF

Fees not specified in the available data

Estimate : CHF 100–150

View the lot at the auction house ↗

$Pierre Letellier — Pierre Letellier (1928-2000), \\Deux danseuses\\,$

Photograph : Piguet · Enlarge image ↗

Piguet