I usually tend to cover artists coming from the Third Reich era, but this time I would like to make an exception with this particular painter, in part because he is an artist from one of my favourite periods in art history (the Turn of the Century period to be accurate) and in part because he is credited as being the ‘inventor’ (discoverer I should say) of camouflage for the military industry. Lucien Victor Guirand de Scévola enjoyed a life of successes in his native France, he was also pretty much involved in the war effort on behalf of his country, which makes me think that the symbiosis between the Military intelligence and the art world is older than people might think at first (thinking about the CIA and its shenanigans historically-wise). He fought against the Germans in WWI (since he was French) but that should not deter the viewer from enjoying his art. I particularly appreciate his paintings from the late 19th Century / early 20th Century period the most, precisely those featuring ‘inaccessible and diaphanous young women of colourful and translucent aura’.

Biography

Lucien-Victor Guirand, known as Lucien-Victor Guirand de Scévola, was born in Sète on November 14, 1871, and died in Paris on March 29, 1950. He was a painter, draftsman and illustrator. Painter of flowers, still-lifes, scenes of alcoves and landscapes, Guirand de Scévola also had a brilliant career as a portraitist. Among many of his portraits is worth pointing out works for the Duke of Massa and the Duchesses of Uzes and Brissac. The artist also painted worldly scenes. The velvety and silky aspect of his technique was remarkable. His achievements of Symbolist inspiration were (and still are) particularly appreciated by connoisseurs.

Lucien-Victor Guirand was the son of Jean-Antoine Guirand, a traveling clerk, and Catherine Mélanie Fournaire. A pupil of Fernand Cormon at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris (School of Fine Arts in Paris), he specialized in pastel technique. He regularly exhibited in Paris at the Salon des Artistes Françaises, then at the Salon of the National Society of Fine Arts, of which he became a partner, then a member, then member of the committee, and finally president in 1937, replacing the landscaper André Dauchez. He also became a member of the Société des Pastellistes de France, of which he became president. In 1903, he created the decoration of the fireplace and various panels of the Molière theater in Sète, inaugurated in 1904.

In January 1906, he married the French actress, Marie-Thérèse Piérat (stage name Marie-Thérèse Panot) a member of the Comédie-Française. The weekly magazine of the week tells us that it was ‘the great event of the week’. The religious marriage was celebrated the next day in the Church of the Trinity, resplendent with light. An immense crowd in which most of the glitterati and theatrical world of the time were seen attending the ceremony. Lucien-Victor Guirand de Scévola had his studio in Paris at 42 Rue Fontaine until 1910, domiciled in Paris at No. 91 avenue de Villiers. By that time he was appointed Knight of the Legion of Honour. He was also promoted to officer of the Legion of Honour by decree on May 26, 1914. Guirand de Scévola also created several pieces in which his wife played. He illustrated the tales she published, such as La Galante Aventure du Roi Jean XV (1928).

The Art of Camouflage

Mobilized since the beginning of the First World War, Lucien-Victor Guirand de Scévola is considered one of the inventors of the military camouflage; the credit also goes to Eugène Corbin and his friend, decorator Louis Guignot. The original idea was to cover the pieces of artillery with painted canvases, melting in the landscape to avoid their detection by the enemy. The two artists who did not know each other met in October 1914 and officially formed an ‘art team’. But it was finally Guirand de Scévola, who was an influential man in Paris, who used his relationships to promote the use of camouflage.

In February 1915, following conclusive tests, it was decided to set Toul as the first camouflage center, where Guirand de Scévola took the lead. Several artists were mobilized to this new autonomous section. Supported by his wife Marie-Thérèse Piérat, Guirand de Scévola (then a gunner in the 6th regiment of artillery on foot, promoted quickly to captain) used his high relations among the members of the government to inform the military authorities of the experiments carried out in Toul. Armed with the support of General Castelnau, leader of the II Army, and the interest of President Raymond Poincaré, he finally persuaded the high command of the strategic value of camouflage and its effectiveness in protecting sensitive points at the front. Guirand de Scévola submitted to the French General Staff the idea of concealing, under painted canvases, cannons which shone in the sun, as well as men, so that they merged with the surrounding terrain.

On August 14, 1915, Marshal Joffre, convinced of this new military art, gave a regular organization to the ‘camouflers’ assembled in a unit attached first to his headquarters and then, in October 1916, to the 1st Engineer Regiment, placing it under the command of Guirand de Scévola. Secondary workshops were created in Châlon-sur-Marne, Noyon and Chantilly. The creation of camouflage sections allowed artists (whose profession did not have a particular role in the war) to put their talent at the service of France. Thus masters of the art of camouflage like André Mare, Jean-Louis Forain, Auguste Desch and André Dunoyer de Segonzac emerged. Thanks to his achievements Guirand de Scévola was promoted to the rank of Commander of the Legion of Honour by decree on July 30, 1935.

Later Life

Lucien-Victor Guirand de Scévola and his wife spent many regular stays in the Gard property, the Castle of Montsauve in Sauveterre, which she inherited from her mother, Alice Panot, and where they welcomed many artists and other personalities. In 1946, the municipality acquired the castle to house schools and the town hall. The commune received from Jeanne Marguerite Fournials, a pupil of Guirand de Scévola, a collection of paintings painted by her master which are still preserved there.

Guirand de Scévola died on March 29, 1950 at his home in Paris at 119 rue de Courcelles. He was buried on April 1, 1950 in Paris at the cemetery of Montmartre after a religious ceremony celebrated at the Church of Saint-François-de-Sales, his parish.