'Le Hôtel Negresco à Nice' by Marie-Lucie Nessi-Valtat (circa 1960s)

'Le Hôtel Negresco à Nice', oil on canvas, by Marie-Lucie Nessi-Valtat (circa 1960s). The artist has beautifully captured the glamour of the building on the famous Promenade des Anglais, just as the sun is about to set. The hotel's iconic dome has been a beacon for the jet-set for decades and its lighting, seemingly from the stars above, brings both energy and illumination at the same time. The Negresco hotel is situated on the Baie des Anges in Nice, France. It was named after Henri Negresco (1868–1920), who had the palatial hotel constructed in 1912. Over the years, the hotel had its ups and downs, and in 1957, it was sold to the Augier family. Madame Jeanne Augier reinvigorated the hotel with luxurious decorations and furnishings, including an outstanding art collection and rooms with mink bedspreads. She also popularised it with celebrities. Elton John featured it in the video for his song, "I'm Still Standing", and she told Bill Gates, the founder of Microsoft, that purchasing it would be beyond his means. It remains an iconic structure and is now listed in France as a National Historic building. The artwork is newly framed with a French-style linen slip. It is in good overall condition and is signed by the artist in the lower right hand. Upon request, a video will be provided.

About the Artist: Marie-Lucie Nessi-Valtat (1910-1992). Born in Paris, when she had completed high school, then 16 years old, convinced her parents to allow her to attend drawing classes. She completed her training in the atelier of André Lhote at the Académie de La Grande Chaumière and the Ecole des Beaux-Arts. With her fellow students she spent many evenings in the company of Jacques Hélion, Kisling and Foujita, whom they used to meet in the cafés of Montparnasse. Although her father-in-law, Louis Valtat, encouraged her, Nessi hardly found time to paint, as she was dedicated to her husband, Doctor Jean Valtat. But that marriage ended in divorce in 1949. Obliged to look after her two children’s needs, the artist started to produce ceramics hoping to turn her talents to profit. From 1958, thanks to the assistance of her mother-in-law, Suzanne Valtat, to whom she remained firmly attached, Nessi-Valtat abandoned ceramics and at last, devoted herself entirely to painting. The Wally Findlay International Gallery signed an exclusive contract with her in 1972 which brought her not only a certain amount of financial security, but also the satisfaction of seeing her work appreciated by an international public. The artist passed away in 1992.

Dimensions with Frame:

H 40 cm / 15.7"

W 47 cm / 18.5"

Dimensions without Frame:

H 26 cm / 10.2"

W 33.5 cm / 13.2"