'Vue sur la Ville au Toit Rouge' / 'View Over the City of Red Roofs' by Guy Le Péqueux (circa 1960s)

Vue sur la Ville au Toit Rouge (View Over the City of Red Roofs), oil on canvas, by Guy Le Péqueux (circa late 1960s). The artist channels his expressionist sensibility into a vivid, almost musical interpretation of a Mediterranean town's cityscape. Viewed from an elevated vantage, the composition swells with gestural brushwork and bold contrasts—cool shadows, deep forest greens, and the arresting warmth of red-tiled rooftops. A bustling avenue lines the foreground, softened by impressionistic trees and haze, drawing the eye upward toward a skyline of layered architectural forms.

Painted in his signature palette of blues, greens, and umbers—punctuated by ochre and crimson—this work reflects Péqueux’s deep engagement with place and memory. Though not specifically placed, the artwork likely evokes a city such as Marseille or Nice, rendered not with topographical accuracy but emotional fidelity. A striking example of mid-century French expressionism, it captures the atmospheric resonance of a small city alive with rhythm, history, and light. In our gallery's opinion, the painting shares elements of the optimistic, fashionably decorative, and illustrative nature of the artworks of Raoul Dufy (1877-1953). 

The artwork is in good overall condition and is signed by the artist in the lower left hand. We have retained the original frame and slip for its charm and authenticity. Along with that charm comes nicks, cracks, blemishes and a bit of mid-20th Century patina. Upon request, a video of the artwork will be provided. 

Dimensions with Frame:

H 40.5 cm / 15.9"

W 48.5 cm / 19.1"

Dimensions without Frame:

H 24 cm / 9.4"

W 31.5 cm / 12.4"

About the Artist: Guy Le Péqueux (1942-2021) was born in France during World War II. A struggling student in his youth, he discovered painting while living with his grandmother—a formative period that sparked his lifelong dedication to art. Between 1960 and 1965, he began exhibiting his early works in Paris Montparnasse, Bar-le-Duc, Beaulieu-en-Argonne, and Nancy. In 1966, he launched a series of solo exhibitions in the town of Troyes, in the Champagne region, marking the beginning of his professional artistic journey.

Péqueux developed his distinctive expressionist style through extensive travels across Scandinavia, Russia, the Caucasus, the Middle East, Africa, and Greece. The cool blue tones in his work are often interpreted as evoking the chill of the Nordic countries, while the ochres and reds reflect the heat and arid light of Jordan and the Sahara Desert.

The artist passed away on 7 January 2021, at the age of 78.