Décor, La Reine Margot by Erté

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

Decor: La Reine Margot


Signed “Erté” (lower right)
Inscribed “No. 18.387” (en verso)

Gouache paper

The set design for Act IV of La Reine Margot is a visual tour de force that captures the essence of a tumultuous period replete with political intrigue, forbidden romances and Machiavellian maneuvers. Created by Erté, the stage is a tableau of contrasts and elegance. A black and white checkered floor serves as the foundation, revealed by the drawing back of a sumptuous blue curtain that evokes the grandeur of royal attire. Against this monochromatic backdrop, a ladder descends, its rungs graced by a delicate dancer poised in an delicate stance. The scene is punctuated by a feather-like chandelier, adding a final touch of opulence to this intricate design. In melding the historical richness of the French court with the aesthetic principles of the Art Deco movement, Erté's design stands as a marvel of visual storytelling, capturing the spirit and detail of an era and translating it into a form that speaks to contemporary sensibilities.

This particular set was part of a series of designs that found their way into the personal collection of Zizi Jeanmaire and Roland Petit, luminaries in the world of ballet and dance. The captivating alliance between the Erté and the flourishing performing arts scene of Paris transported audiences to new realms throughout the early 20th century. These collaborations rose above mere aesthetic embellishments, penetrating to the core of performances and adding greater depth to the narratives on display. The artist possessed a great range of vision and was equally adept at capturing Rococo decadence in the sets of Cosi Fan Tutte as he was in creating supernatural, moody interiors for Les Mamelles de Tirésias. His Art Deco stylings brought both a fantasy and modernity to the stage that has rarely been matched since. Parrying the spectacle of these fantastical productions, fashion grew more opulent, with luxury canes, pocketwatches and compacts becoming essentials for a modern Parisian.

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 & Albert Museum in London and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.

Painted 1974

Paper: 7" high x 11 5/8” wide
Frame: 12 1/8" high x 17 3/4" wide x 3/4" deep

Provenance:
Private collection, Roland Petit et Zizi Jeanmaire, Paris
Private collection, Paris
M.S. Rau, New Orleans

Exhibitions:
Musée Rath, Genève, Zizi Jeanmaire – Roland Petit. Un patrimoine pour la danse, April -August 2007
M.S. Rau, New Orleans, Erté and the Era of Art Deco, October 14, 2023 - January 3, 2024