Jean-Gabriel Domergue

1889-1962

Biography

Jean-Gabriel Domergue was born in Bordeaux 1889 and was a distant cousin of the painter Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec. His passion for art, particularly drawing, led him to l’ Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris, where he studied under renowned painters such as Jules Lefebvre, Ferdinand Humbert, and François Flameng.

Domergue was only 18 years old when he first exhibited at the Salon des Artistes Français and he received an honorable mention in 1908. At the same Salon, he will earn a 3rd class medal in 1912 and a gold medal in 1920.

In 1913, he won the prestigious Grand Prix de Rome in painting, reflecting the early recognition of his talent. Domergue became a well-known figure in Paris, collaborating with major institutions, including creating a composition for the “Féerie” perfume by Rigaud.

For the inaugural edition of the Cannes Film Festival in 1939, he was chosen to design the poster, depicting a woman in a backless dress applauding alongside a man in a suit. This motif illustrates his characteristic style, highlighting long and elegant figures, particularly women. Elected a member of the Académie des Beaux-Arts of the Institut de France in 1950, he served as curator of the Musée Jacquemart-André from 1955 to 1962, where he organized exhibitions featuring artists such as Van Gogh, Toulouse-Lautrec, and Goya.

A painter of high society, Domergue specialized in portraits of Parisian women, depicting influential figures such as Nadine de Rothschild and Josephine Baker. With his wife, the artist and sculptor Odette Maugendre-Villiers, they divided their time between Paris and Cannes, where they built the the Villa Fiesole. This place became emblematic in the history of the Cannes Film Festival, hosting grand evenings attended by prominent personalities of the event.

After their passing, the couple bequeathed the villa to the municipality of Cannes, which became the headquarters of the festival jury for 20 years.

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Jean-Gabriel Domergue

1889-1962

Biography

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