Cycling/ Tour de France/ Centenary/ Cartoon/ PIC - Lot 33

Cycling/ Tour de France/ Centenary/ Cartoon/ PIC Superb white lithograph, numbered 199/200 in pencil by the artist, with description: "Les conquérants du Tour de France" for the Tour's Centenary (1903-2003), a new creation by the Pellos disciple, well in line with his unforgettable family tree. Here, the winners are in the position of patrimonio-nationals rather than "zoziaux" (a term dear to Desgrange). Between the four quintuple winners (Anquetil - Merckx - Hinault - Indurain), who are swashbuckling at the top of the Eiffel Tower (topped by the yellow jersey), and the lighthouse of the patrons-keepers of the lighthouse and the spirit of the Tour, at the very bottom, Desgrange-Goddet-Leblanc, the whole garland of winners is paraded in a caravan situation: the Luxembourgers (Faber, Frantz, Gaul) in the RTL gondola, the Belgians (Defraye-Thys-Lambot-Scieur-Dewaele-les Maes) in the Atomium, the Dutch on the windmill (Janssen, Zoetemelk), the Spaniards (Bahamontes-Ocana) on the corrida pass, the Italians (Bottecchia-Bartali-Coppi) jousting or sailing, and the French pioneers (Garin-Cornet-Trousselier-Pottier-PEtit-Breton-Lapize-Garrigou) inevitably piloting a baguette. They're all more real, and more lifelike, than life, with a special mention for Bretons Robic and Bobet. This fresco is a pure joy, containing all the atmosphere of the Tour. Beautifully framed, it's ready for the race.