WWI French Pilot Soldier Antique Portrait Painting Germaine Neveux To Restore for Sale

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WWI French Pilot Soldier Antique Portrait Painting Germaine Neveux To Restore For Sale

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WWI French Pilot Soldier Antique Portrait Painting Germaine Neveux To Restore:
$750.00

This listing is for a very rare posthumous oil on canvas portrait painting of the World War I French aviator/soldier, Georges Eugene Martinot by French artist, Germaine Lantoine-Neveaux. He was a Croix de Guerre recipient and a Knight of the Legion of Honor. In my research, I was able to find a couple of photos of him online (see last images..these are digital only and are not included with the painting) and his biography and citation. The translation was made from French, so please excuse any typos or errors.
The painting measures a little over 21 1/2 inches H x about 18 1/4 in W x 3/4 in D. The painting is signed on the upper left corner and I believe it has the date of 8/1917. There is also further writing on the back stretcher that notates when and where he was killed in action. It does have some flaking paint on the front which may flake further during shipping. Every effort will be made to package the painting securely so it does not get damaged in shipment. The painting is being sold in AS-IS condition. It was imported here from France. Please see all photos.
Biography:
Martinot Georges Eugène was born on March 29, 1894, in Stenay.Son of Eugène, road and bridge works manager and mayor of Stenay, and Colin Élisabeth, without pro‐fession, he studied at the Polytechnique school at the time of the declaration of war. He enlisted volun‐tarily on August 11, 1914.He lives at 25, rue Jean Daudin in Paris 15th and is single at the time of his engagement.He was shot down in aerial combat on September 26, 1916, above the woods of Saint-Pierre-Vaast.Military backgroundMartinot Georges Eugène joined Polytechnique on August 11, 1914. He was recruited at Seine 2ndunder number 1771.He moved to the 102nd on January 3, 1915, then to the 35th on July 21, 1915.He then moved to the staff of the 155th then to that of the 104th at the end of 1915.Student observer at the MF55 in February 1916, he was appointed observer to the 2nd group onMay 3, 1916. Assigned to the F33 squadron, section ALF211, he participated in reconnaissance and ar‐tillery adjustments.Created in Tours on October 2, 1914, the MF 33 squadron is equipped with 7 Maurice Farman MF7s. Itwas initially placed under the authority of Captain Alfred Bordage and was attached to the BelgianArmy Detachment (DAB).,BureauRAL RALRAL R. He fought in Flanders at the end of 1914. On January 1, , he joined the 9th , where he remained until 1918. He spent the year 1915 in Artois, where he participated in three offensives.From April to May 1916, he was engaged in the battle of Verdun, in the region of Avocourt and the Boisde la Hayette.In July 1916, the squadron was equipped with Farman F40 and F60; it takes the name F-33 and moves tothe Mailly camp.In October 1916, he participated with the Franco-British troops in the Battle of the Somme where hedistinguished himself by reconnaissance carried out in the enemy zone.
On September 26, 1916, Lieutenant d'Amecourt (pilot) and Second Lieutenant Martinot (observer) wenton reconnaissance above the woods of Saint-Pierre-Vaast. They were attacked by a German squadronand did not return, probably going down in flames, south of Rancourt, after a fight against 4 planes.Citation to the army:''Remarkable observer, both for his intelligence and his enthusiasm. Gave constant proof of this by hiscontempt for enemy artillery fire and aircraft, notably on August 23, 1916, continued his mission eventhough the plane he was riding in had been hit by more than forty fragments.On August 24, attacked during an artillery adjustment by two planes, they engaged in a lively fight during which its pilot was hit by two bullets, continued to use his machine gun allowing his pilot to freehimself and return his plane to the field.Left immediately with another pilot to complete his mission.Officer whose modesty was matched only by his bravery.On September 26, 1916, responsible for reconnaissance, flew alone over a region occupied by the enemyeven though he knew this region was guarded by numerous German fighter planes. Was attacked during this mission by three enemy planes and met a glorious death in this unequal combat.Decoration:Knight of the Legion of Honour.War Cross with palm.