This elegant 1913 original poster by Ernest Montaut, celebrating Felice Nazzaro’s victory at the Grand Prix de l’Automobile Club de France in a FIAT, is a remarkable example of the earliest era of motor racing imagery. Created at a time when the automobile was still a technological marvel, the work captures both the romance and the raw novelty of speed in the pre–First World War period.
Montaut depicts the racing car sweeping along an open country road, its elongated form cutting through the landscape with effortless momentum. The driver and mechanic sit exposed in the cockpit, emphasizing the heroism and danger of early competition. Rather than heavy blocks of color, Montaut relies on fine linework and delicate washes, giving the scene a lightness and fluidity that suggests motion, wind, and vibration.
The composition stretches horizontally, reinforcing the sense of forward movement, while the gently bending trees and receding road guide the eye into depth. This approach reflects Montaut’s distinctive style, influenced by illustration and early animation, in which mechanical subjects are animated with grace and personality rather than brute force.
The subject commemorates one of the great figures of early Grand Prix racing. Felice Nazzaro, already a celebrated driver, is presented not through portraiture but through action, his FIAT becoming an extension of his skill and daring. The discreet inscription and refined execution place the image halfway between sporting document and work of art.
Printed in Paris by Mabileau & Cie, this poster stands today as a rare witness to the birth of international motor sport and to Ernest Montaut’s pioneering role in shaping the visual language of racing. It embodies a moment when speed was new, heroic, and poetic, and when the poster served as both announcement and celebration of modernity.
Original Poster
Automobile - Sport - France
Fiat - Enhanced with gouache
Printed by Mabileau & Cie in Paris
Good condition, soiled
Sign up & benefit from discounts or exclusive offers.