Georges Victor-Hugo

Belgian-French painter and Olympic skipper, the son of journalist Charles Hugo and grandson of writer Victor Hugo.

Georges Victor-Hugo was born after the death from meningitis of his parents' first child, also named Georges. At the age of three, he lost his father and was raised by his grandfather Victor who was inspired by this experience to write the book L'Art d'être grand-père (The Art of Being a Grandfather). His godfather was the journalist Henri Rochefort, a friend of the great writer. He studied at the Janson-de-Sailly high school in Paris and studied painting alongside the painter Ernest Ange Duez.

He married Pauline Ménard-Dorian in Paris in 1894. Their son, Jean Hugo, also made a career as a painter.

Having been a sailor during the three years of his military service in the Navy, in 1896 he published a collection of memories on this subject, Souvenirs de matelot.

He competed in both 1-2 barrel class races in the sailing events at the 1900 Olympic Games aboard the Martha (he is referenced as Charles Hugo in Olympic reports). He won the silver medal at the end of the first race and the bronze medal at the end of the second.

Divorced in 1899, he remarried in 1901 to Dora Charlotte Dorian (daughter of a deputy), first cousin of his first wife.

In 1902 he managed to change his name to Victor-Hugo and henceforth signed his paintings Georges Victor-Hugo or the monogram G.V.H.

During the world war of 1914-1918, he enlisted - he was 46 years old - and took the opportunity to draw trench scenes which were exhibited at the Museum of Decorative Arts. He was decorated with the Croix de Guerre with army citation for his bravery as a liaison officer.

On 5 February 1925, aged 56, Georges Hugo died of pulmonary congestion, in poverty and riddled with debt, in a modest room at no. 2, rue de l'Élysée in Paris.