For years, I’ve been chasing answers about the enigmatic Bernard Montorgueil, and one puzzle keeps me up at night: the variations in his artwork. Most fans know his four manuscripts, published in 1970 by Editions Dominique Leroy in limited editions for the Netherlands and later by Editions Bel-Rose in France in 1979. But dig deeper, and things get murky.
I stumbled across artworks on an auction site that differ from those in the published books. These bear what seem to be original signatures, and here’s where it gets wild: one piece, signed “R. or K. Wesley” and dated 1931, depicts the same scene as another signed “Bernard Montorgueil” and dated 1932. The same scenery, one year apart, two different names. What’s going on? Could R. Wesley and Montorgueil be the same artist, switching pseudonyms to dodge censorship or test the waters? Or were they separate artists in a Parisian circle, sharing a sketch or model? The questions pile up, and answers are scarce.
I often find myself in debates with collectors who insist Montorgueil was the sole genius behind all his art, dismissing other works as copies. But what if the colorful illustrations in the 1970s books were drawn by hired artists, inspired by Montorgueil’s originals? The differences in style and signatures make me doubt the standard story. I’m sharing this to spark new ideas and challenge old assumptions, and as a free gift to show why it is so important to preserve legacies like these.
Check out the free gallery below, featuring the signed artworks I found. If you have clues (auction records, original sketches, or thoughts on R. Wesley) drop me a line or contact me. I love to hear your thoughts.
