'Tennis Match on Clay' by Pierre Gaillardot (circa 1970s-80s)

'Tennis Match on Clay', watercolour on paper by Pierre Gaillardot (circa 1970s-80s). A lively and atmospheric watercolour by French artist Pierre Gaillardot, depicting a tennis match on a red clay court, animated by a crowd of spectators, fluttering national flags —  and elegantly dressed figures in white, evocative of the leisured sporting society of early-to-mid 20th-century France. Gaillardot's loose, transparent washes of blue, ochre, and terracotta capture the shifting light and movement of the scene with characteristic spontaneity, while the foreground figures — rendered with quick, gestural strokes — anchor the composition with a sense of casual elegance.

The clay court surface, the array of international flags, and the formal attire of the spectators suggest this may depict an international tennis fixture such as those held at Roland Garros — the Parisian stadium renowned for its "terre battue" courts, which became a hub of international competition from the 1920s onward, notably hosting the Davis Cup and now a Grand Slam. While the scene is not explicitly titled as such by the artist, the visual details align closely with the atmosphere of a major international meet of that era, lending the work an added layer of historical and sporting interest. It could even depict the Monte Carlo Club's competition.

The painting is in good overall condition and has been newly framed and glazed with high quality, anti-reflective glass. Please enjoy the many photos accompanying the listing. Upon request a video will be provided.

Dimensions with frame:

H 62 cm / 24.4"

W 77.5 cm / 30.5"

Dimensions without frame:

H 47 cm / 18.5"

W 63 cm / 24.8"

About the Artist: Pierre Gaillardot (1910-2002), French painter from the new school of Paris whose origins were from the Burgundy region. Gaillardot was known for his watercolours of fashionable social and sporting life — regattas, racecourses, and outdoor gatherings capturing the inflected leisure culture evident here. His work sits within the tradition of French plein-air watercolourists who prioritised atmosphere and immediacy over precise detail. A retrospective exhibition of his works was held at the ‘Musée d’Art Moderne’ in Paris in 1967. His works appear for sale at the major international auction houses and reside in collections around the world.