Eugene PÉCHAUBES (1890-1967), Courses de chevaux "Longchamp - The Grand Prix," 1929

Gouache, watercolor, ink (pen); 19 cm x 23 cm in light passe - partout framed in a wooden frame 33 x 36 cm; signed in pencil by the author "E Pechaubes" p.d.

Eugene PÉCHAUBES - French painter of horses, fascinated by horse racing. For many years he never missed a horse race at the hippodromes of Paris -Longchamp in the Forest of Bourbon and Vincennes. He was also often commissioned to create portraits of famous racehorses and their owners. Born in 1890 in Pantin, and who died in 1967 in Paris, he left behind a rich legacy of artworks with a hippie theme.
Horse racing was a central motif in Péchaubès' work. His paintings in this series capture the tension and excitement of these events. He painted numerous finishes of major races, often showing horses in full gallop, with their manes and tails fanned out, and jockeys fully focused on leading their mounts.
Among his well-known racing-themed works are: "Longchamp- The Grand Prix" and "Chantilly- Prix de Diane" (he created series devoted to specific editions of famous races). Drawings depicting "Racing at Deauville" (Racing at Deauville).
The Grand Prix de Paris was first held in 1863. It was initiated by the French horse racing governing body as a long-distance race to compete with international competitions. The Grand Prix de Paris is still held today. It is a prestigious Group 1 race (the highest category in horse racing) for three-year-old stallions and mares. It is usually held in July at the Longchamp Hippodrome in Paris, often on Bastille Day (July 14). Although its importance diminished somewhat after the introduction of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in 1920, it is still a very important event on the horse racing calendar.

The works of Eugène Péchaubès are prized at art auctions around the world and are an important contribution to sports art, especially in the field of painting horses and racing.