Charles G. Martignette est mort.

Photo de Tom Thurston, Apogee (Ft. Lauderdale) tirée de l'ouvrage "L'Âge d'or de la pin-up Américaine" édité par Taschen en 1996.

Je viens d'apprendre le décès de Charles G. Martignette. Il est mort le 3 février 2008 mais je ne l'ai appris qu'aujourd'hui, incidemment, en discutant avec le libraire d'un Regard Moderne. 58 ans d'une vie dévorée à pleines dents. Je connaissais Charles depuis presque 10 ans sans jamais l'avoir rencontré. Il fut le co-auteur avec Louis K. Meisel de l'Âge d'or de la pin-up Américaine et de Gil Elvgren qui viennent d'être réédités chez TASCHEN. Il a collectionné avec Louis K. Meisel des dizaines de mes pin-ups. Charles possédait la plus importante collection d'illustrations Américaine du monde. Près de 20000 œuvres! Que vont devenir ces trésors de la culture Américaine? Peut-être un musée? Je l'espère. J'espère un jour visiter le musée Charles G. Martignette et le remercier en pensée de la confiance qu'il a su insufflé en moi. Collectionneur avide, il n'était pas avare de compliments concernant mon travail et il m'a fait le plus beau cadeau en rédigeant la postface de mon artbook: French Pin-ups édité en 2001. Merci Charles.

J'ai fouillé pour vous dans mon courrier pour faire revivre un instant sa fougue et son enthousiasme envers mon art.

HUBERT - I HOPE THIS IS PLEASING TO YOU. CHANGE ANYTHING YOU FEEL IS INCORRT - I TRUST YOURJUDGEMENT. IF YOU MAKE ANY CHANGES JUST SEND ME A FINAL COPY OF THE TEXT.
YOUR FRIEND AND ADMIRER,
CHARLES

When I first became a dealer specializing in original paintings by American Illustrator artists in 1975, I can recall seeing a die-cut advertising tin sign that showcased the work of the French artist Aslan. At the time, I was just beginning to learn about American pin-up and glamour art so my initial exposure to seeing a French artist's work was a new discovery.

Now,more than twenty-five years later, I am very proud to say that, in association with Louis K. Meisel, I have become a dealer and collector of the original paintings executed by Hubert de Lartigue. His work reminds me of Aslan,but only in terms of the subject matter of sexy girls. Hubert has his own highly definitive and distinguished style.The special visual appeal of his artwork places it in a world class catagory that has earned Hubert's original creations the distinguisted title of being called ' de Lartigue Girls'.

My gallery in Hallandale,Florida33009-USA houses the world's largest collection of American Illustration art paintings which includes most of the original pin-up paintngs that were published in the two books I wrote for Taschen with Louis Meisel ( 'The Great American Pin-Up' and 'Gil Elvgren-All His Galmorous American Pin-Ups). All of the artwork is vintage Americana but there is one contemporary artist whos original paintings hang on the gallery walls surrounded by Norman Rockwell, Alberto Vargas, Gil Elvgren, and George Petty -- and that artist is Hubert de Lartigue!

Hubert's paintings bridge the gap between photorealism and fine art in a commercial form. His women are electric and on fire reaching out to the viewer as if they were seductively alive and a part of an art collector's daily life! Born in 1963 in Angers, France, Hubert began working as an illustrator while still studying at the Ecole Duperre and Ecole Estienne. In the beginning of his career he specialized in painting many science-fiction subjects, often depicting sexy women in those images. Eventually, he turned his full time attention and interests to painting his own ' de Lartique Girl ' pin-ups and he has since that time become one of the top three most important glamour artists in the world sharing that spotlight with Sorayama and Olivia.

In much the same manner as that of Alberto Vargas, Hubert works with the greatest of precision and detail in his drawing, painting, and overall execution of every image he creates. His flesh tones are supurb riviling those of even Sir Russell Flint's watercolors although Hubert paints mainly with acrylic! As a creator of provoacative images, Hubert's pin-ups contain all of the most important components that a painting needs to have making them the delight and desire of collectors all over the world.

Although several hard cover books have already been published about Hubert's art, this new book will surely aid in skyrocketing his name and the beauty he creates to new levels of acclaim. In the near future, Hubert's paintings will probably be the subjects of a major museum show in the United States making him the first contemporary artist to be granted such an honor. I am honored to have both the personal and professional relationship that I share with Hubert and look foward to watching his talent contribute and produce many wonderful future works of art epitomizing the natural beauty of the female form.

There is no queston in my mind that the paintings and images created by Hubert will find a very special place in the art history of the 21st century -- he is, after all, the new master of pin-ups and glamour!

Dear Charles,

Thank you very much for all the things you write. May be it is too much for
the book. I am going to think about it and ask some advices. I will send you
all the text of the book in a couple of days.
Thanks again.
Hubert


DEAR HUBERT - THERE IS NOTHING THAT I SAID THAT IS NOT TRUE OR THAT I DO NOT
BEIEVE
ABOUT YOUR TALENT AND YOUR ART. I'M KNOW THAT LOUIS SHARES ALL OF MY BELIEFS
IN
YOUR TALENT AND YOUR FUTURE.

I AM NOT SURE WHAT YOU MEAN WHEN YOU SAY IT IS ' TOO MUCH ' BUY I AM
ASSUMING YOU
EITHER MEAN THAT OT IS TOO LONG OR THAT IT PRAISES YOU AND YOUR ART TOO
MUCH. IF
THE SIZE AND LENGH OF WHAT I WROTE WILL FIT OK IN VTHE BOOK THEN YOU SHOULD
DEFINATELY TRY TO USE IT ALL.

IF YOU

I ACCIDENTALLY SENT THE LAST EMAIL BEFORE I HAD FINISHED MY THOUGHTS ...

AS I WAS SAYING, IF IT WILL ALL FIT IN THE SPACE YOU HAVE FOR MY COMMENTS IN
THE
BOOK THEN YOU SHOULD DEFINATELY USE IT ALL - IF YOU WANT IT TO BE SHORTENED
( REDUCED IN LENGTH ) THEN I WILL BE GLAD TO DO THAT -

HOWEVER, IF YOU CONCERN IS OVER MY PRAISE FOR YOU, YOUR ART, YOUR TALENT, OR
THE FUTURE OF YOUR CAREER -- WELL, THEN YOU SHOULD NOT WORRY ABOUT THIS
BECASUSE EVERYTHING THAT I WROTE IS TRUE. YOU ARE A VERY SPECIAL TALENT AND
YOUR
WORK IS ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL.

LET ME KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THIS.

THANKS

CHARLES