1914 Umberto Brunelleschi Pochoir Engraving Le Docteur Ballanzone Framed - 22"

Details

Description

ARTWORK DETAILS
~ Artist: Umberto Brunelleschi (Italian, 1879–1949)
~ Title of Work: Le Docteur Ballanzone
~ Period / Date: 1914 … Read more ARTWORK DETAILS
~ Artist: Umberto Brunelleschi (Italian, 1879–1949)
~ Title of Work: Le Docteur Ballanzone
~ Period / Date: 1914 (Early Art Deco / Late Belle Époque Transition)
~ Medium: Original Hand-Colored Pochoir Stencil Engraving on Paper
~ Print Engraver: H. Reidel
~ Publisher / Journal: Journal des Dames et des Modes, Paris
~ Portfolio Series: Les Masques et les Personnages de la Comédie Italienne
~ Framing: Elite archival custom framing by Susan E. Dube, Ltd. (Manhasset, New York); housed under protective glass in an ornate, heavy gesso-and-gilt wood frame with a premium layered matting environment.
~ Provenance: Retains original prestige gallery framing label on reverse; sourced from a high-end Northeastern estate collection.
~ Aesthetics and Styles: Art Deco Illustration, Belle Époque Elegance, French Aristocratic, Theatrical / Costume Design, Hollywood Regency, Maximalist

DIMENSIONS
~ TOTAL FRAMED SIZE: 22.00 inches Width x 19.00 inches Height x 1.50 inches Depth
~ ORIENTATION: Horizontal / Landscape Format

DESCRIPTION

An exceptional, investment-grade original 1914 pochoir-colored engraving by the celebrated Italian master artist Umberto Brunelleschi (1879–1949). Titled "Le Docteur Ballanzone," this rare work was published in Paris by the prestigious fashion, costume, and art journal Journal des Dames et des Modes. One of the defining illustrators of the Art Deco era, Brunelleschi was globally renowned for his elegant theatrical compositions, sophisticated haute couture imagery, and celebrated costume designs for iconic Parisian stage productions. After studying at the Accademia di Belle Arti in Florence, he settled in Paris in 1900, where he rose to become one of Europe's foremost illustrators, designing for the Folies Bergère, Théâtre du Châtelet, and later crafting legendary stage costumes for Josephine Baker.

This masterful engraving portrays Doctor Ballanzone (Il Dottore), one of the most enduring and recognizable characters of the historic Italian Commedia dell'Arte. The work originates from Brunelleschi's highly scarce 1914 luxury portfolio, Les Masques et les Personnages de la Comédie Italienne, a remarkable series that perfectly captures the stylistic transition from late Belle Époque organic illustration to the emerging, clean-lined Art Deco aesthetic.

Printed crisp in black ink and meticulously hand-colored using the traditional French pochoir stencil process, the engraving possesses a luminous, richly layered pigmentation and razor-sharp precision that sharply distinguishes authentic antique pochoir work from ordinary mass color printing. The refined composition balances early geometric forms with theatrical elegance. The background architectural setting is widely believed to directly reference the Petit Trianon at Versailles, reinforcing the print's atmosphere of French aristocratic refinement while providing an elegant stage for the character. Beautifully presented in an ornate gallery gilt frame, this authentic 1914 print offers immense equal appeal as a significant museum-tier collectible and as a striking decorative statement in both traditional estates and collected contemporary interiors. Ready to hang.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ)

Q: What is a pochoir print?
A: Pochoir (the French word for stencil) is a highly specialized, luxury printmaking technique that peaked in Paris during the Art Deco era. Unlike mechanical machine printing, a master colorist applies layers of rich, liquid gouache or watercolor by hand through a series of hand-cut zinc or copper stencils. This results in incredibly vibrant, thick, and luminous fields of color that have a distinct physical texture.

Q: Is this an original 1914 print or a later reproduction?
A: This is an authentic, original 1914 impression from the scarce Paris portfolio publication Les Masques et les Personnages de la Comédie Italienne. It is not a modern digital copy, photo-offset lithograph, or later restrike. The paper texture, strike lines, and hand-applied stencil coloration are all textbook hallmarks of the 1914 edition.

Q: How should this piece be styled in a home?
A: Because of its sophisticated mix of historical theater, French architecture, and Art Deco flair, this horizontal piece styles beautifully over a living room sofa, anchoring an executive office desk, or acting as a high-end conversation piece in a dining room vignette. Its rich gilt frame makes it a natural fit for Traditional, Hollywood Regency, and Maximalist spaces.

Q: How will this framed glass artwork be packaged for shipping?
A: The gallery glass will be securely taped with specialized low-tack glass masking tape to prevent fracturing. The entire framed unit will be wrapped in multiple layers of heavy-duty small-cell bubble wrap, and floated within a thick, double-walled corrugated box tightly packed to ensure zero movement during transit. Full shipping insurance and tracking are included automatically. See less