His Origins
Pierre Girieud was born in Provence, where his parents came from, on 17th June 1876.
Once he was sure of his artistic vocation he settled down in Paris in 1900.
Montmartre 1900 - 1912
Pierre Girieud lived in Montmartre for ten years, near place du Tertre. There he became a friend
of Monge, Lempereur, Launay, Villon, Marquet, Manguin, Camoin, de Mathan,
Puy and Picasso with whom he shared
an exhibition
in 1902.
He was also a friend of the writers such as Mac Orlan or
Carco and
Dorgeles qui en
who mentioned him in their works.
It is with this last literary man that as a canvasser in the Salon des Indépendants
he registered a painting painted by the tail of an ass (whose name was Aliboron)
under the tittle of " Et le soleil s'endormit sous l'Adriatique (And the sun fell asleep on the Adriatic)"
and with the name of Boronali as the author of the painting. This mystification of
Boronali remained famous among the artists of Montmartre (1) because he was patating his rejection of systematic abstraction and the search for
whatever new, and therefore in particular Cubism (2).
The meeting point of Girieud and his friends was Le Cafe du Lapin Agile (3) whose room is
decorated with Picasso's Arlequin and Girieud's Parrot and its annex designed by Julien Callé on his property in Saint Cyr sur Morin
where regularly meet a whole band of happy lurons ready for all fantasies (4) and taking little seriously (5). Forain says that
Pierre Girieud invited to an exhibition in Germany, learned from a well-meaning friend that he would meet there
only masters, ordered a hundred business cards simply bearing these two words: Girieud pupil (6).
Nicknamed Gigi, he is famous in Montmartre for his memorable parties, his sense of hospitality and his ease of offering to drink (7).
But beyond the pranks and memorable celebrations, they explored
unknown ground and tried to find opportunities to show their works.
They tried to revolutionise their art, and each made different experiments.
Their search resulted in the creation of Salon d'Automne.
Mister GIRIEUD
Pierre Girieud's life, based on friendship, talent and openness was upset by the first
world war in which some of his friends died.
Obsessed his horrible war experiences, Girieud turned his back on his former life.
It will not be the only one as shown by a Comoedia article on the Salon d'Automne (8)
Living in turns in Paris or in Provence he finally recovered stability in his private
as well as his professional life.
His work consists in
studio paintings,
lanscapes painting outdoors ,
frescoes and decorations.
He obtained a certain notoriety consecrated in 1929 by obtaining the Legion of Honor(9)(10)
Pierre Girieud died on 26 th December 1948 at the age of seventy-two shortly after joining
the Artists' Retreat Center in Nogent-sur-Marne (11) (12).
(1) The life and death of Boronali
(2) Brivot A. Remarks by Charles Genty - May 1951
(3) From Montmartre to the Latin Quarter
(4)
street theater
(5) Paris Montparnasse at Saint-Cyr-sur-Morin
(6)Les nouvelles littéraires artistiques et scientifiques
(7)Dorgeles les hasards de la palette
(8)Blanche Jacque Emile
(9)La légion d'Honneur de Pierre Girieud
(10)
Mr. Girieud - Legion of Honor
(11) Le Figaro 1950 november 2
(12) Le Figaro 1950 november 11
