§ PAUL LUCIEN MAZE (FRENCH 1887-1979) SITTING IN THE GARDEN Signed lower left, pastel on off-white paper (53cm x 71.5cm (20.75in x 28in)) Provenance: Artist's studio sale. Footnote: Sold without reserve. Paul Maze was born in Normandy, the birthplace of impressionism. Fittingly, his biography is titled ‘The Lost Impressionist’, although he is also frequently described as a Post-Impressionist. His immersion in both movements is unsurprising. He knew Monet and Renoir, and Pisarro was an early teacher. He friends included Derain and Bonnard and he sketched with Raoul Dufy. George Braque was a lifelong friend and he was particularly close to Vuillard who encouraged his use of pastel. Maze had a strong Scottish connection; his first army post was as a volunteer interpreter with the Scots Greys. He served in both world wars and was a much-decorated hero who was awarded the Croix de Guerre, Legion D’honneur, the Military Medal and the Distinguished Conduct Medal. He developed a close friendship with Winston Churchill, whom he taught. He was a frequent visitor to Chartwell. Churchill wrote the preface to Maze’s autobiography and the forward to his 1939 New York exhibition. Then, he wrote “with the fewest of strokes, he can create an impression at once true and beautiful” His work was in the collection of the late Queen Mother and is held in many public collections, including the Tate and at Glasgow. This collection came from the artist’s family. It includes his favourite subjects, Trooping the Colour, still life, yachting, the Sussex landscape of his adopted country and, especially, his beloved wife, Jessie.