Fine Art M.S. Rau | Acte I, La Grande Duchesse By Erte

Erté (Romain De Tirtoff)
1892-1990 | Russian-French

Acte I, La Grande Duchesse

Signed “Erté” (Lower Right)
Inscribed “La Traviata / 1Er Acte / Entrée Des Invités / Composition Originale” (En Verso)
Gouache On Paper

Erté Designed This Multi-Hued Dreamscape For A Production Of La Grande Duchesse, An Opéra Bouffe In Three Acts By Jacques Offenbach. After Its Premiere In Paris In 1867, It Became A Staple In The Operatic Repertoire Of Europe And The United States. This 1948 Set Design For Act I Of The Timeless Production Would Have Heightened The Comedic And Satirical Elements Of The Opera, Offering Audiences A Rainbow Of Visuals That Would Have Parried The Colorful Humor Onstage.

The Alliance Between Erté And The Vibrant Performing Arts Scene Of Paris Transported Audiences To New Heights Throughout The Early 20Th Century. Erté Emerged As An Unmatched And Emblematic Creative Force Whose Visionary Designs Were Imbued With An Otherworldly Appeal. His Mesmerizing Costume And Set Designs Left An Indelible Imprint On Operatic And Theater Productions Of The Period.

Russian-French Visionary Romain De Tirtoff (1892-1990), Popularly Known As Erté, Began His Artistic Journey In The Culturally Rich City Of St. Petersburg, Where He Developed An Early Fondness For Ballet And Theatrical Performances. He Moved To Paris In 1912 To Study Architecture, And Quickly Found His Creative Niche In Crafting Fantastical Costumes For The City’S Bustling Nightlife. Erté‘S Expertise, Refined Under The Guidance Of The Famed Paul Poiret, Captured The Attention Of Harper’S Bazaar, Marking The Beginning Of A Significant Partnership That Spanned From 1915 To 1936. The Artist Also Designed Sets For Notable Cinematic Masterpieces Including Ben Hur And La Bohème, And Created Sets And Costumes For Cabarets, Operas And Other Performances At The Folies-Bergères, Bal Tabarin, The Théâtre Du Bataclan And Le Casino De Paris. Erté Was A Trailblazer Whose Colorful Creations Shaped The Groundbreaking Art Deco Era More Than Any Other, Leaving An Indelible Mark On The History Of Art And Design. His Artworks Reside In Prestigious Museum Collections Worldwide, Including The Metropolitan Museum Of Art In New York, The Victoria &Amp; Albert Museum In London And The Los Angeles County Museum Of Art.

Circa 1945

Paper: 5 1/8″ High X 6 1/2″ Wide
Frame: 11 1/8″ High X 12 5/8″ Wide X 5/8″ Deep

Provenance:
Private Collection, Paris
Private Collection, 2008
M.S. Rau, New Orleans

Exhibitions:
M.S. Rau, New Orleans, Erté And The Era Of Art Deco, October 14, 2023 – January 3, 2024