Pierre Joseph Combet Descombes Biography
Pierre Joseph Combet-Descombes was born on 24 March 1885 in Lyon and died in the same city on 4 December 1966. He was a French painter who exerted a strong influence on the artistic and cultural life of Lyon, particularly known for his paintings of the French countryside.
He began exhibiting in the salons of Lyon (Salon of the Society of Fine Arts of Lyon) and Paris (Autumn Salon) from 1908
Although he was exempt from military service, he participated in the First World War as a volunteer nurse with the Auxiliary nuns and in 1916 he left for Thessaloniki with the Armée d'Orient. Many sketches and drawings by the artist bear witness to this period.
In the years 1917-1920 he made engravings for the art editions of La Sirène and created theatrical decorations.
He exhibited at the Autumn Salon of 1920 in a room dedicated to the Ziniars group. From 1921 to 1956, he collaborated with Suzette Guillaud's free art performance company. He participated in the creation of the South-East Salon, with Joseph Jolinon, Marius Mermillon, Victor Jean Desmeures and the co-founder president Charles Sénard.
In 1925, Pierre Combet-Descombes created the decoration of the stand for the 1925 Exhibition of Decorative Arts in Paris and co-created the decoration of the Lyon pavilion of the 1937 Universal Exhibition in Paris.
In 1945, he joined the Advisory Commission of the Museums of France and was named Knight of the Legion of Honour. In 1952, he became a member of the Academy of Sciences, Fine Letters and Arts of Lyon.
His studio in Via Thomassin, Lyon, was devastated by flames on 9 December 1955, destroying around a hundred canvases and several hundred drawings. In 1956, the death of his partner and painter, Henriette Morel (1884-1956), deeply shocked him. Pierre Combet-Descombes then moved to his studio.
In 1957, he participated in the exhibition "A century of Lyonnais painting" at the Museum of Modern Art of the City of Paris, organized by the Paris-Lyon group. In June 1960, he took part in the exhibition "Lyonians look at Lyon" at the Saint-Georges gallery in Lyon.
He died during a fire that broke out in his residence on Rue Ruplinger in Lyon on 4 December 1966.
