David Hockney among France’s New Year honours list

British painter David Hockney has been represented in France’s New Year’s Honours list, being awarded the rank of Officier in the Legion of Honour.

The celebrated painter, who previously lived in Beuvron-en-Auge (Calvados), is one of a handful of non-French citizens to be awarded an honour in the New Year’s listings.

Officier is the second level in France’s Legion of Honour system, and can only be awarded eight years after an individual has been granted the initial rank of Chevalier (unless granted through exceptional merit).

As a non-French citizen, Mr Hockney can receive the award but cannot become an official ‘member’ of the Legion. 

Others to receive a mention in the honours include Franco-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal – following his release from prison in Algeria in November – singer Nolwenn Leroy and chef Anne-Sophie Pic.

The inclusions mean the Legion has around 77,000 members. The maximum number permitted is 100,000.

Full details can be viewed here.

Hockney returned to London following ‘intrusion’

David Hockney has long expressed admiration for Normandy, and lived for four years in Calvados between 2019 and 2023. 

However, he returned to London, telling British media The Guardian he felt a victim of intrusion as “people kept coming round” to his home.

During his stay, he hosted exhibitions including ‘A Year in Normandy’, exhibited for a time at the museum housing the Bayeux Tapestry. 

The painter previously expressed an interest in painting the tapestry, and if he remains in London for the coming year may get the chance to do so, with the artefact being loaned to the British Museum.