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198 - MARTIN, Jacques (1921–2010) Alix. La Laurentine. Indian ink …
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Estimate €2,000 - €3,000
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Description
MARTIN, Jacques (1921–2010) Alix. La Laurentine. Indian ink and coloured inks were used for this rare large-format illustration, created in 1982. Monogrammed ‘J.M.’ in the bottom right-hand corner of the plinth. Dimensions: 45 cm x 34 cm. This drawing was created by Martin for an exhibition entitled ‘La Laurentine and the invention of the Roman villa’, which took place from 17 January to 5 February 1983 at the Institut français d’architecture. The Villa Laurentine is the famous villa of the writer Pliny the Younger (61–114 AD). Nothing remains of it except Pliny’s description in an ancient letter (Book II, Letter XVII, Pliny to Gallus), the text of which has been preserved and which allows us to imagine a reconstruction. Prior to this exhibition, a competition had been launched in 1981/1982 specifically to produce a plausible reconstruction; Martin was unable to take part, no doubt because he was too busy with other tasks, but he did provide a drawing – this one – which was used. He drew inspiration from one of the proposed reconstructions of the villa, put forward by the architect Léon Krier. It is dated April 1982 on the reverse. Graphically, it is entirely in keeping with the two albums *Les Proies du Volcan* (1978) and *L’Enfant Grec* (1980). There is a striking resemblance between Alix’s face in this drawing and the one seen on plate 3 of *L’Enfant Grec*. This drawing is one of the very few known large full-length portraits of Alix used in separate illustrations (posters, point-of-sale displays, various advertisements, etc.). No other appears to have been produced in spot colour. It was reproduced in the July 1982 issue of *Charlie Mensuel*, and mentioned in Pierre de la Ruffinière du Prey’s book, *The Villas of Pliny from Antiquity to Posterity* (The University of Chicago).
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Auction time 06/27/2026 at 11:00 AM
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