Esteemed Fine Art Dealer Louis Stern Honored With the French Decoration of Chevalier de la Legion D'Honneur

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif., Jan. 16 /PRNewswire/ -- In a ceremony at the French residence in Beverly Hills, home of Consul General Philippe Larrieu, noted gallerist and advisor Louis Stern was presented with France's highest decoration, the Chevalier de la Legion d'Honneur ("Knight of the Legion of Honor"). Created by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1802, it is awarded for gallantry in military action or civilian life for work that enhances the reputation of France through scholarship, arts, sciences and politics.

The decoration was presented by Pierre Vimont, the French Ambassador to the U.S., on this his first visit to the West Coast. The Government of France recognized Mr. Stern for his efforts to further the knowledge and appreciation of French culture and French artists with his gallery program and his numerous French/American civic affiliations.

Mr. Stern, owner of Louis Stern Fine Arts in West Hollywood, has long been acknowledged for his activities as dealer, expert and consultant, specializing in Impressionist and important Modern painting and drawing. In addition to his current gallery in West Hollywood, Mr. Stern has operated galleries in London and Paris. Gallery exhibitions have included solo shows for Matisse, Picasso, Leger, Villon, Kupka and other important artists. He has acquired and placed works by the most renowned artists of the late 19th and 20th centuries including Monet, Renoir, Pissarro, Sisley, Cassatt, Degas, Van Gogh, Braque, Chagall, Modigliani, Giacometti, de Kooning, Dubuffet, Francis and Warhol.

Despite a decidedly East Coast chill in the temperature, the event attracted a star-studded French and American crowd complete with Hollywood celebrities, French diplomats, well-respected business people and a large contingent of Stern family members. About receiving the decoration, Stern commented, "I am truly overwhelmed by the honor. It was particularly meaningful to have the decoration ceremony held here in Southern California. To be able to have my family and many friends stand with me for the ceremony -- that was so important to me. It was all thrilling -- beyond my wildest expectations."

Taped coverage of the event will appear on the website of Art and Living magazine, http://www.artandliving.com, in January. A feature on the French-U.S. art connection will appear in an upcoming issue of Art and Living.