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Décor pour Ma mère l'Oye by Erté
- Erté served as set designer for a 1947 production of Ma Mère l'Oye
- The alliance between Erté and the vibrant performing arts scene of Paris was powerful
- This set design allowed audiences to be transported to the play's fairy tale setting
- Erté is remembered as the "Father of Art Deco" for his incomparable impact on the period
- Get complete item description here
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1892-1990 | Russian-French
Décor pour Ma Mère l'Oye
(Mother Goose)
Signed “Erté” (lower right)
Inscribed "Ma Mère l'Oye / No. 8574 / Décor du Serpentin Vert / Composition originale" (en verso)
Gouache on paper
Erté created this elegant and sophisticated set design for Ma Mère l'Oye (Mother Goose), a musical suite composed by Maurice Ravel in 1911. One of the five children's tales told within the suite is. . .
1892-1990 | Russian-French
Décor pour Ma Mère l'Oye
(Mother Goose)
Signed “Erté” (lower right)
Inscribed "Ma Mère l'Oye / No. 8574 / Décor du Serpentin Vert / Composition originale" (en verso)
Gouache on paper
Erté created this elegant and sophisticated set design for Ma Mère l'Oye (Mother Goose), a musical suite composed by Maurice Ravel in 1911. One of the five children's tales told within the suite is the fairy tale of Le Serpentin Vert, which follows the enchanting journey of a young prince as he quests to rescue a cursed princess and restore her to human form with the help of a magical green serpent. This 1947 set design would have served as the immersive background for the young prince's brave quest, captivating audiences of the period.
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 & Albert Museum in London and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.
Painted 1947
Paper: 9 1/2" high x 9 1/2" wide
Frame: 15 1/8" high x 15 1/8" wide x 5/8" deep
Provenance:
Private collection, Paris
M.S. Rau, New Orleans
Exhibitions:
M.S. Rau, New Orleans, Erté and the Era of Art Deco, October 14, 2023 - January 3, 2024
Buy With Confidence
For over a century, we've placed important art, rare jewels and exceptional objects with more than 14,000 collectors worldwide, and have been recognized by trusted publications including Robb Report, The New York Times, Wall Street Journal and more.
On Approval
Examine select works in person before you commit
125% Guarantee
Full credit plus 5% annual appreciation for five years
Trusted Expertise
Over two centuries of combined experience across our specialists
