Luc-Olivier Merson, Salomé, 1898, Lithograph on Paper

Details

Description

Luc-olivier merson (1846-1920)

salomé

original lithograph from the glorious portfolio "l'estampe moderne", second special plate of the second … Read more Luc-olivier merson (1846-1920)

salomé

original lithograph from the glorious portfolio "l'estampe moderne", second special plate of the second year

on wove paper

year: 1898

size (sheet): 405 x 305 mm

signed on the plate "luc olivier merson", upper right

blind stamp of the publisher, lower right

excellent condition: minor signs of age and handling
full margins (not cropped, not trimmed)

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about the collection (l'estampe moderne)

l'estampe moderne appeared in 1897-1899 as a series of 24 monthly fascicles, each containing 4 original lithographs, printed by parisian imprimerie champenois. Many accomplished european art nouveau painters contributed works to this publication, which contained only original prints invented and produced especially for this collection. The publication was edited by charles masson and h. Piazza. Each issue came in a paper cover bearing an original lithograph by alphonse mucha.
each lithograph was accompanied by a tissue containing the details (title of the artwork, name of the artist, etc.) and a short text by a well-known author who inspired the artist.
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the artist

luc-olivier merson was a pivotal french academic painter and illustrator who masterfully bridged the gap between traditional history painting and the emerging symbolist movement. Born in paris to an artistic family, merson achieved early prestige by winning the prix de rome in 1869 for his work the soldier of marathon. His style is defined by a meticulous, refined draftsmanship and a penchant for mystical, often phantasmagoric subjects drawn from religious hagiography and medieval legend.

merson is perhaps best known for his poetic reimagining of sacred themes, such as his celebrated rest on the flight into egypt, which depicts the virgin mary and child sleeping between the paws of a colossal, moonlit sphinx. Beyond the canvas, he was a prolific designer whose influence permeated french daily life; he designed stained-glass windows, postage stamps, and even banknotes for the bank of france. As a professor at the école des beaux-arts, merson mentored a generation of artists, ensuring his disciplined yet imaginative approach to the "ideal" endured well into the early 20th century.
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from the text on the tissue paper:

ses lèvres étaient peintes, ses sourcils très noirs, ses yeux presque terribles, et des gouttelettes à son front semblaient une vapeur sur du marbre blanc.
elle ne parlait pas. Ils se regardaient.
un claquement de doigt se fit dans la tribune.
elle y monta, reparut; et, zézayant un peu, prononça ces mots, d'un air enfantin:
« je veux que tu me donnes, dans un plat, la tête\.\. » elle avait oublié le nom, mais reprit en souriant: « la tête de laokanann! »
le pétrarque s'affaissa sur lui-même, écrasé.
tout à coup, un bruit de pas se répercuta dans les couloirs. Le malaise devenait intolérable.
la tête entra; — et mannaei la tenait par les cheveux, au bout de son bras, fier des applaudisse-
quand il l'eut mise sur un plat, il l'offrit à salomé.
g. Flaubert
(hérodias)

english translation:

her lips were painted, her eyebrows very black, her eyes almost terrifying, and droplets upon her brow seemed like a vapor on white marble.
she did not speak. They looked at each other.
a snapping of fingers was heard in the gallery.
she ascended it, reappeared; and, lisping slightly, pronounced these words with a childlike air:
"i want you to give me, on a dish, the head\." she had forgotten the name, but resumed with a smile: "the head of iaokanann!"
the tetrarch slumped into himself, crushed.
suddenly, the sound of footsteps echoed through the corridors. The unease became intolerable.
the head entered; — and mannaei held it by the hair at the end of his arm, proud of the applause.
when he had placed it upon a dish, he offered it to salome.
g. Flaubert (herodias)
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important:

. The listing is for the original print, in the above mentioned excellent condition.
. The original tissue paper introduction will be given to the buyer as a gift this piece has an attribution mark,
i am sure that it is completely authentic and take full responsibility for any authenticity
issues arising from misattribution See less