Page 20 - lemaitre_leroux

The mysticism of the itinerary
or

How sport makes an entrance

After her productive meeting with Salvador was willing to sponsor me.” On the day of the pri-
Dali, so important for Françoise LEMAÎTRE-LEROUX’s vate view, he not only came to support my exhibition
destiny, the Catalonian was to send her another sign. but also stayed until its closing. “There were three
It appears that Catalonia is one of those places that hundred guests, who had been meticulously chosen.
have the power to encourage the development of They included the Chinese Consul General Maurice
those who, one day or another, decide to welcome its Caseneuve, former manager of the national French
magic into their lives. In 1992, during the Barcelona television channel “France 5”, and other dignitaries
Olympic Games, things took an almost providential from Monaco. It would have been hard to find more
turn for our artist. But good fortune only smiles upon prestigious guests. As a result, we were allowed to
those who have a gift for seizing the opportunity when meet the Grimaldi family’s official painter, famous
it arises. for his extremely beautiful portraits of Grace Kelly. At
that time, the artist lived at Saint-Jean Cap Ferrat.”
Invited by the Olympic Committee to the Olympic
Games in Catalonia, Françoise appeared on televi- In fact, it was later that the real impact of this event
sion not only on the Catalonian channel “Antenne 2”, was felt. A few months later, in Geneva, Françoise
but also on Spanish national television, in a program met one of the great names in the manufacture of
directed by Japanese reporters, and even gave an luxury clocks and watches, who had discovered her
interview to a Chinese delegation...All these signifi- work at the gallery in Monaco. Such a lucky conse-
cant people appeared “amazed” by the fact that a quence shows how events can successfully link up and
woman should be able to feel and reflect the fasci- lead to new opportunities.
nating world of sport and competition so well. Forty- During the illustrious Monacan exhibition, Françoise
two paintings were exhibited at the Grife de Escoda also had the chance of meeting Mr Cavalarie, a Ferrari
Gallery and in the main reception rooms at the Royal dealer, and Mr Boerie, president of the Monte-Carlo
Automobile Club of Catalonia, allowing the painter to Motoring Club, which was no trivial affair when one
gain recognition in new territory. Relayed on a wide knows the importance that Françoise attaches to the
scale by the media, this experience was soon after to Scuderia. The relations that she was to maintain with
open the doors of the Olympic Museum in Lausanne the legendary Italian car manufacturer would show
to her, which represented another important step in how much the company cherished the artist. As for
her life. Michel Pastor, when he entered the gallery, he took a
complete look around before calling his children in a
“In Barcelona,” Françoise explains, “we were able firm voice: “Come and look, it’s fabulous.” Monaco was
to build relationships with top sports personalities. therefore a real artistic and relational springboard.
They all looked attentively at my work, which they “Afterwards, things just seem to have happened all by
sincerely respected. Encouraged by this sudden rush themselves,” Françoise comments. “For example, at
of interest, we then had to find a gallery appropriate Jean Alesi’s jubilee, we met racing driver Jean-Pierre
to my relatively specialised approach.” Monaco hap- Beltoise who has become one of our friends.”
pened to be the most prestigious location and best
met Françoise’s expectations. Consequently, she Success followed success. When the Quille company
went to Monaco and was able to meet Michel Pastor, a celebrated its fortieth anniversary, the manager of-
Monacan businessman, owner of a prestigious gallery fered Françoise a new exhibition space in Saint Eloi
that exhibited such artists as Armand, Ben, César and Street on the premises of its Rouen head office. “I
Mick Michel. Françoise was warmly received. “On top painted a picture of a car situated in the foreground,
of the generous sponsorship granted by Michel Pas- that is to say in pole position, and its competitors
tor, I had the idea of getting in touch with the driver lined up one behind the other in a row,” Françoise
Jacques Laffite, a famous motorsports champion. A says.
few days later, Jacques Lafitte informed us that he 55