Look for us at this years Greenwich Concours d' Elegance Show. A
Festical of Speed and Style, in Greenwich, CT, June 5-7!
Oil Portraits has partnered with Greenwich Concours d' Elegance to help
raise money for their organization on a year round basis. Concours d'
Elegance displays cars from all around the world such as Lamborghini,
Aston Martin, Audi, Ferrari, Porsche, Maybach, Bentley, Roll-Royce,
Bugatti, and many many more. Most of the cars at this show have been
published in mutiple magazines throughout the world. Bruce Wennerstrom, chairman and CEO of Concours d' Elegance, is a noted
car collector, automotive author, Founding Editorial Director of
Classic Cars on Mag Rack, former CNBC television host, producer of
automotive marketing events, and co-director of the Madison Avenue
Sports Car Driving & Chowder Society. It has been a pleasure teaming up
with Bruce Wennerstrom and Concours d' Elegance and we cannot wait for
the show in June. We have learned so much about the automotive industry
and will continue to learn more because we will have a display with
many of our portraits to show the automotive lover. We will also show
other categories such as pets, families, children, bridal, and sports.
What is Concours d' Elegance?
The term originated in France in the 1920's- literally "a gathering of
elegance"- to denote the exhibiting of custom-bodied motor cars by
their proud owners, and by European carrossiers, or coachbuilders,
frequently in conjunction with the latest couturier designs. As these
early concours grew in scope and popularity, they attracted
sponsorship, and prizes were awarded for outstanding design. The early
concours featured mostly French designs, but it wasn't long before
German, Italian, English, and American coachbuilders were also vying
for recognition by the cognoscenti. The focus was on excellence of
design, rather than mechanical excellence, though custom coachwork was
normally only fitted to the finest chassis.
Though World War II brought an interruption to these glorious events in
France, there has been a resurgence of such exhibitions as interest and
appreciation of automotive design has grown over the years. One of the
most significant indications was the 1951 show, at New York's Museum of
Modern Art, recognizing the automobile as an art form. Eight
automobiles, selected for their superb design, were displayed at MOMA,
and Arthur Dexler, the then-MOMA curator of architecture, described
them as "hollow, rolling sculpture." In fact, MOMA now includes a
Ferrari and a Jaguar in their permanent collection.
Automotive aficionados have revived the concept of the concours, both
here and abroad, and the Greenwich Concours d' Elegance is a new star
in the firmament of prestigious motor-car concours. Featuring the
celebrated cars of celebrated people, it promises to be an outstanding
event, in the tradition of the original "gathering of elegance."