Thursday 5th May 2016
SOTHEBY’S LONDON TO SELL ‘ROLLA’ CIRCA 1878
BY HENRI GERVEX, FRENCH (1852-1929)
’19TH CENTURY EUROPEAN PAINTINGS SALE 25 MAY 2016′
The notorious French painter Henri Gervex’s ‘ROLLA‘ circa 1878 caused quite a scandal in the Spring of 1878 when it was rejected by the Salon de Paris. Already an accomplished artist of considerable note, at the age of 26 Gervex had been awarded a medal at the Salon, which in theory made him an “outsider” in terms of competition and therefore dispensed from the deliberations of the jury in charge of choosing the artworks exhibited. This time, the authorities decided otherwise as they judged the scene to be “immoral”
Background for the painting:
The painting was judged indecent, not because of Marie’s (the prostitute’s) nudity, which in no way differs from the canonic nudes of the time. The attention of contemporaries rather turned to the still life constituted by a gown, a garter, and a hastily undone corset covered with a top hat. Indeed, Gervex might have been advised by Degas to put “a corset on the floor” so that the spectator may know this woman “is not a model”.
Like Manet’s ‘Olympia’ the painting was judged too direct. It forced Parisian society to face the realities of prostitution which was widespread in Paris at the time.
Estimated at £400,000- £600,000 we wait to see what this fascinating painting makes on the day!
Claire Moore BA(Hons)
GALLERY MANAGER
More Exquisite works by Henri Gervex, French (1852-1929)
‘CINQ HEURES CHEZ PAQUIN’ by Henri Gervex
‘ A SESSION OF THE PAINTING JURY’ circa 1883 by Henri Gervex
‘UN SOIR DE GRAND PRIX AU PAVILLON D’ARMENONVILL’ by Henri Gervex
WELCOME TO THE FLETCHER GATE FINE ART GALLERY
A FIRST SIGHT OF ‘TURNING TO STONE’ 