1 / 15
a book with a picture of a military seal on ita picture of a book with a picture of a cat on itan open book with a picture of a parrot on itan open book with a picture of people on ita book with a picture of a coat of arms on itan old book with a picture of a man in a military uniforman old book with a picture of soldiers on itan old book with a picture of a man holding a flag on top of itan open book with a quote on it sitting on a tablean old book with a drawing of a man in a boatan old book with a drawing of a man standing in front of a buildinga picture of a book with a picture of a pirate on ita book with a picture of a coat of arms on itillustration of a soldier in uniform standing in front of a buildinga picture of a book with a picture of a man in uniform
Premium ROUILLAC

152 - The Imagery of Marshal Pétain, 1941–1942
See original version (French)

Estimate €800 - €1,200
Sale commission
Description
The Imagery of Marshal Pétain, 1941–1942 2 publications Philippe Pétain. The Imagery of the Marshal Limoges, Ateliers François, 1941 Unbound sheets, on handmade Auvergne paper from a special batch bearing the Marshal’s watermark [3] – frontispiece: ‘I was with you in the glorious days. I remain with you in the dark days, 1918–1940’ - Offering - A set of 12 plates with the letter coloured by stencil, and a set of 12 plates and frontispiece preceding the letter in black, illustrating the major stages of Pétain’s life, from his childhood to his role as ‘saviour’ in 1940 In a hardback binding with a tricolour ribbon 43 x 52.5 cm Prestigious first edition, copy no. 43/100 presented by Marshal Pétain (a few foxing spots, title plate sun-faded) Philippe Pétain. Images of the Marshal Limoges, Ateliers François, 1942 Loose-leaf, on vellum paper Title page – frontispiece I was with you in those glorious days. I remain with you in the dark days, 1918–1940 – A Gift – A series of 12 plates with the letter coloured by stencil Mounted on cardboard 38 x 47.5 cm (a few foxing spots, small tears at the margins) ‘L’Imagerie du Maréchal’, printed in Limoges in 1941 and 1942, is a collection of illustrative plates emblematic of the Vichy regime’s propaganda. This series aimed to establish a cult of personality around Philippe Pétain by using the conventions of traditional popular imagery, in the style of the Epinal prints. The large-format 1941 edition is the limited or deluxe edition. The 1942 copy, printed on lighter paper and in a smaller format, is a reprint intended for wider distribution or to reduce production costs (due to wartime shortages). The principal artist behind these plates was Gérard Ambroselli (1906–2000). He was officially appointed ‘the Marshal’s Illustrator’. Having settled in the ‘free zone’ following his demobilisation in 1940, he was commissioned to create a hagiographic iconography (a ‘life of a saint’) for Philippe Pétain. He deliberately adopted the style of 19th-century Epinal prints (distinct black outlines, bright colours applied in solid blocks or using stencils) to appeal to the popular and traditional French sensibility. Although he had worked for the Vichy regime’s propaganda machine, Ambroselli went underground in late 1942 following the arrest of General de Lattre de Tassigny. He joined the Resistance (under the name “Captain Gérard”) and ended the war as an illustrator for the 1st French Army, even designing the “Rhine and Danube” insignia.
See original version (French)
Auto-translation. Refer to original language for legal validity.
About the sale René Benjamin, the 20th-century Balzac scholar
Auction location
Auction time 10/06/2026 at 2:00 PM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
You may also like