11. The Ball [1899]

Michel Simonidy arrived in Theodor Aman's workshop in 1888, and by 1891, he had already won a scholarship that would facilitate his move to Paris. He entered the French art scene through the Julian Academy and the École des Beaux-Arts, and made his debut at the Salon of the Society of French Artists. In Paris, the Romanian artist lived in a building located in the 18th arrondissement, where other artists of the time also lived, including Jules Pascin and Toulouse-Lautrec. Simonidy's artistic journey began with academism filled with historical or mythological motifs and gradually adopted naturalism where he inserted symbolist accents. The resounding success brought by his monumental work "The Scents of Winter" (engraved by Charles Baude for Le Monde Illustré) in Paris echoed back in his home country, where the artist was proposed to execute ceiling paintings for the Council Hall of at the Savings and Consignments House in Bucharest. Michel Simonidy was not only an outstanding painter, but also a renowned graphic artist, known for his book illustrations, particularly for his Art Nouveau-style posters made in France. In the same year when he created the presented work, he also accomplished the imposing work mentioned earlier, "Winter Scents." Like the great masters, he took on the feminine archetype which he highlighted in moving allegories of nature, full of expressiveness. The symbolism of his work is revealed through the arabesques of the hair and the muses’ clothing.

References

BADEA-PĂUN, Gabriel, "Patrons and Commissioners, Art and Political Message", Noi Media Print, Bucharest, 2010.

Dimensions

width 38 cm, height 27 cm

Description

tuș și acuarelă pe hârtie, signed and dated bottom left, in pen, ”M. Simonidy, (18)99”

Research information

The catalogue "Paintings, watercolors, gouaches, black and color drawings..., poster designs, paintings...: sale of original prints & impressions formerly belonging to the old Societies of LEMERCIER printings and American press reunited which has ceased its industry" mentions, at cat. 82, under the name of Simonidy, the work "Masquerade Ball", dated 1899.

Dating

1899

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

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