The Art of Speed

Ahead of this year’s Monaco Grand Prix on 26 May, a new exhibition at London’s Hospital Club will bring together all of the official Grand Prix posters from the 1930s, 40s, and 50s as well as some later originals, and visitors will have the chance to purchase them.

This selection on show at The Art of Speed shows how the occasion has always been imbued with a sense of speed, glamour and a sense of place. 

Race organisers looked to the best artists of the day to create the posters, including Robert Falcucci, who designed consecutive 1930-1932 posters in the spirit of Vorticism, which allowed him to show direction, movement and velocity.  

Georges Hamel created six race posters from 1933-1937 and 1948, (although this one was produced under the pseudonym Geo Matt).

Known as the Prince of Motion for his illustrative talent, he became chief illustrator of race and aeroplane magazine L’illustration.

Bernard Minne, who is now 95 years old, created the 1950, 1952, and 1957 posters, and was selected at the request of Prince Rainer III.

The 1955, 1956 and 1958 posters were designed by Jacques Ramel, whose first poster won a competition judged by Prince Rainer.

 Ramel, who was admitted to the Salon Des Artistes Francais, at 17 was seen as a great talent and went on to found an advertising agency based in Nice, designed posters up to 1974.

The Art of Speed will take place from 24-26 May at The Hospital Club, 24 Endell Street, London WC2.