[KyleDS]

Can anyone please tell me anything about this painting?? It was bought in 1960 in Paris, France.


Thank you for looking!
-Kyle

[fmtaskart]

About the subject:

The greek temple north of the Place the Concorde in Paris is known as “La Madeleine”. Constructed as an honor to his troops by Napoleon it later was consecrated as a church.

If you Google images “madeleine temple paris” you will see the church from several perspectives. Your painting shares the same with the attachment. Also a front view of the church is attached.

About the artist:

Your artist, “benoir” I have not yet found in any of the several artist directories I searched.

The rest of my comment is opinion.

It is likely your painting was the work of a student artist in Paris. Since the name is not found among listed artists today it may be that no professional career ensued. The date 1957 and handwriting suggest a female artist young in the 1950-60s. The signature and place name writing on the painting seem youthful and appropriate to a student.

Now here's a stretch:

There is a work of fiction that googles up titled “Mademoiselle Benoir”. It is supposedly based on someone’s real life. The title is an older woman who is an artist. A nice conclusion would be that your benoir is the real source of the MB character. I am pursuing this improbable connection. I am emailing the author tomorrow.

Can you determine if the painting was bought in a gallery, on the street, from the artist, male or female .

[fmtaskart]

Trying to get the attachments to you...

[fmtaskart]

I have to say... The author of the novel DID email back that she invented the name. Her heroine did NOT use the name Benoir in her real life painting. Your Benoir remains a question, unanswered for now. The search continues...