Guy de Vilardi Comte de Montlaur belonged to one of the most ancient families of France. HIs ancestor, Bernard de Montlaur, Lord of Vailhaugues had fought with Raymond de Toulouse at the First Crusade in 1096. The family originates from Montlaur, a 10th century castle north of Montpellier in the Languedoc country. Guy de Montlaur was Brazilian on his maternal side. Brought up in Paris he used to go to the Louvre every day to admire his favorite masters, and then the Moderns like Kandinsky. He studied Philosophy at the Sorbonne and painting at the Academie Julian. He rode racehorses each morning with the jockeys at Maison Laffite. In 1938 he joined the military in a cavalry regiment. He had a very distinguished military career including landing on the beach at Normandy. Refusing to be evacuated after a battle in Holland his courage was rewarded with 7 citations including the French Legion d'honneur. He returned to painting after the liberation of France. He went to NY and studied at the Art Students League and in 1948 returned to France and began showing in one man shows. His cubist work was from 1949-1954.
