Léon Gautier French D-Day veteran 1922-2023

World War II history is not the principal theme of my artwork, but alongside my painting, 24 years of work as a tour guide in Normandy has had a big impact on the way I
perceive things. The presence of the place rather than thoughts of a particular battle filter through the brushes.
I was fortunate to get to know Léon Gautier a little and, working from my photos, painted this portrait of him in 2019. Léon was evacuated from his country to the UK in 1940 at the age of 17.
He returned to France on D-Day as a well-trained Commando, part of a unit of 177 French soldiers who landed with the British on Sword Beach.
Many people associate D-Day with the U.S., Great Britain, and Canada, but there were others too, including the French, returning to their country. Léon passed away in July 2023, the last of the French in uniform involved on D-Day.
The D-Day veterans are almost all gone now. Next year is the 80th anniversary of D-Day in Normandy, so this painting seemed to me to be an appropriate choice for this submission.
The painting itself was bought in 2020 by Betsy, a former tour client who became a friend and who lives near Washington D.C.
Upon learning of Léon's passing, Betsy wished to donate the painting back to the French, and Léon's family having agreed, the painting is heading to the French Embassy in Washington D.C. From many angles, it seems a fitting story to share.