One of the many things that we love about motorsport, is the wonderful art that was created to promote the events.
The inaugural Monaco Grand Prix in 1929 was promoted with just a simple list which, to the casual observer, didn’t display any link to motorsport. For the second iconic race in 1930, however, a promotional illustration was commissioned, this was created by French artist, Robert Falcucci.
In this iconic illustration (above), all the elements of motorsport were captured by Falcucci, with the exaggerated image of a Bugatti hurtling at great speed against a bright red cityscape of Monaco, and the driver (complete with goggles and a leather helmet) peering over the side of the vehicle. Such posters would have been printed in their hundreds, stuck to lamp posts and displayed in cafes and barber shops.
As well as creating images for motorsport events, Falcucci collaborated with couturier, Paul Poiret, to promote travel. With a growing appreciation for the art deco period, Poiret’s work is very collectable. So much so, that an original poster of the 1930 Monaco Grand Prix can fetch upwards of £10k at auction – even in faulty condition.
In 1930, the Circuit de Monaco race was won by French driver, René Dreyfus, who completed 100 laps of the historic track in his Bugatti T35B.
