Georges d’Espagnat (1870-1950) - Flower bouquet

Oil on canvas signed and monogrammed upper right
Dimensions: H. 65 cm x W. 54 cm (with frame: H. 90 cm x W. 79 cm)

Born in 1870, Georges d'Espagnat is often associated with several great names in 20th century art. He could be considered as impressionist, post-impressionist, fauve or nabis. In Paris, he exhibited with Cézanne, Seurat, Chagall and Picasso. His works can be found in the collections of the greatest national museums (including the Museum of Modern Art of Paris and the Musée d'Orsay) and international museums (New York, Boston, Chicago, Brussels, Geneva, Moscow, Tokyo, etc.). This very prolific artist (more than 1000 works), produced mainly still lifes, nudes but also some landscapes with or without figures. He always signed GDE and never dated his works

From 1893 to 1911: GDE exhibited at the Salons des Artistes Indépendants, at the Salons de la Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts, at numerous exhibitions at the Galerie Durand-Ruel (Paris and New York), and at the Salon de la Libre Esthétique in Brussels. In 1900, d'Espagnat met Maurice Denis, Pierre Bonnard and Edouard Vuillard. His collaboration with Maurice Denis led to a revival of sacred art in France.

From 1903 to 1949, the artist exhibited at the Salon d'Automne, of which he was one of the main founders, and at the Bernheim Gallery in Paris. In 1934, he was appointed professor at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris, and in 1951 an important posthumous exhibition was organised for him at the Salon d'Automne in Paris.

An artist at the confluence of Impressionist and Fauvist tendencies, d'Espagnat was able to distance himself from them by creating a free-spirited work governed by the explosion of colour.

Our painting is a modernist composition of exceptional power. On a background in two distinct parts and opposite colors, a vase slightly off-center to the right stands out vividly. A natural colorist, the artist uses a very wide palette to elaborate this bouquet mixing orange, pink, white and blue. In the foreground, we note a tambourine, an object rarely represented by the artist. We can date this painting to the years 1925-1930. The raw, thick material is reminiscent of the tones of Fauvism, with which the artist remained strongly influenced even beyond the period of this artistic movement.
The painting is on its original canvas, in perfect condition. It is accompanied by a certificate from Mr. Jacquemont, the author of the main works on d'Espagnat. It is presented in a beautiful gilded frame of regency style.

Works by Georges d'Espagnat in the Museums:
Paris, Musée d'Orsay
New York, Metropolitan Museum of Art
Boston, Museum of Fine Arts
Chicago, Art Institute
Brussels, Royal Museum of Fine Arts
Geneva, Petit Palais
Moscow, Pushkin Museum
Tokyo, National Museum of Western Art
...