Georges Scott was the son of a painter; he studied at the École des Beaux-Arts and became a pupil of Édouard Detaille, the renowned French military painter. Scott was a war correspondent and long-time illustrator for the French magazine L’Illustration. He became known for his portrayals from the Balkan War, World Wars I and II, and the Spanish Civil War. His work was a tribute to the great suffering of the soldiers, and their resignation and heroism. One of his major works, an oil painting depicting King Constantine I of Greece during the Balkan Wars, hangs today in the main entry hall of the Presidential Palace in Athina. In 1936, he served on the jury for the Miss France pageant. He was appointed an Officer of the Legion of Honour in 1928. After traveling to North Africa in 1903, Scott painted numerous works featuring Berber subjects, including scenes of the “Fantasia” – a traditional equestrian display. In the 1920s, he revisited the subject. He produced a picture titled “Fantasia” for L’Illustration in 1925 depicting a performance by Spahis (Oriental cavalrymen) at a Parisian equestrian competition. One year later, he exhibited the black-and-white work at the equestrian show held at the Grand Palais.
France