Louis XIV by Erté

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

Louis XIV


Signed “Erté” (lower right)
Gouache on paper

This original gouache from the creative mind of Erté puts the spotlight on Erté’s tongue-in-cheek artistry, showcasing Erté‘s creative sartorial interpretation of King Louis XIV. A combination of high fashion and clever creativity, this ensemble underscores Erté’s groundbreaking approach to design.

In this gouache, Erté envisions the famed monarch as a somewhat celestial power, rendering his skirted attire from fabric with a sea of star-like dots and swirling galaxies. Erté identifies the famous king by placing a large sunburst on his lapel — Louis XIV was famously known as the Sun King. The true embodiment of French power, Erté renders two pointed heeled shoes from the symbol of France, the fleur de lys, and even takes things a step further by placing the king’s hand inside a glove that turns into the symbol, inextricably linking the body of the monarch with the land of his country. Erté punctuates the design by styling the king’s long hair in two gravity-defying coils that rise up almost like horns—or a crown—from his head. This creative and striking gouache on paper underscores Erté’s clever imagination, unique point of view and unimpeachable sartorial genius.

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.

Paper: 14 1/2" high x 10" wide
Frame: 20 3/4" high x 16 7/8" wide x 5/8" deep

Provenance:
Private collection, Paris
Private collection, 2015
M.S. Rau, New Orleans

Exhibitions:
M.S. Rau, New Orleans, Erté and the Era of Art Deco, October 14, 2023 - January 3, 2024