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an image of a painting of a view of a body of wateran image of a painting of a view of a lake and a villagean image of a painting of a landscape with boats in the wateran image of a piece of brown paper with a yellow pin on itan image of a picture of a piece of art hanging on a walla sculpture of a man standing in front of a white wall
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Estimate €40,000 - €60,000
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Description
Maurice DENIS La Terrasse, model of the set for Act III of *The Dream of the Sleeping Beauty* – 1892 Glue painting on cardboard Signed with the monogram ‘M’ at the top centre 22.7 x 34 cm Provenance: The artist’s studio Collection of Dominique Denis (1909–1997), his son Kellermann Collection, Paris Galerie Berès, Paris Collection of Pierre Bergé (1930–2017), Paris Auction: Paris, Sotheby’s and Pierre Bergé & Associés, Pierre Bergé Collection, 30 October 2018, lot 843 Acquired at this auction by the current owner Louis Grandchamp des Raux Collection Bibliography: This work will be included in the Catalogue raisonné of Maurice Denis’s paintings, currently being prepared by Claire Denis and Fabienne Stahl, under catalogue number 890.0019. Glue painting on cardboard; signed with the monogram in the upper centre; 9 x 13 3/8 in. Towards the end of the 19th century, Charles Perrault’s fairy tale *Sleeping Beauty* aroused the interest of the Symbolists, who appropriated the subject in the fields of theatre and literature as well as in the visual arts. In 1892, the publication of Gabriel Trarieux’s play *Le Songe de la Belle au Bois* reinterpreted the tale as an allegory for escapism from the modern world. In the Symbolists’ retellings, the princess refuses to wake up, preferring to fall back asleep after the prince’s kiss, or choosing to die rather than face reality, thus shifting the fairy tale towards tragedy. This work, painted with glue on cardboard, is a model with a grid layout (visible on the painted black border) of the backdrop for the third act of *Le Songe de la Belle au Bois*. The text of Act III begins with the following description: ‘The terrace overlooking the sea. The Princess is seated, leaning on her elbows. The end of a summer twilight’. The composition of this set is a direct legacy of Gauguin’s teachings at Pont-Aven and an illustration of the Nabis theories. A certificate of digital inclusion from Ms Claire Denis and Ms Fabienne Stahl will be provided to the purchaser. Maurice DENIS 22.7 x 34 cm Towards the end of the 19th century, Charles Perrault’s fairy tale, *La Belle au Bois Dormant* (Sleeping Beauty), captured the interest of the Symbolists, who embraced the subject in theatre and literature as well as in the visual arts. In 1892, the publication of Gabriel Trarieux’s play, *Songe de la Belle au Bois*, reinterpreted the tale as an allegory of the desire to escape the modern world. In the writings of the Symbolists, the princess refuses to wake up, preferring to fall back asleep after the prince’s embrace, or even choosing to die rather than face reality, thus transforming the fairy tale into a tragedy. This work, painted in glue tempera on board, is a model with a grid layout (visible on the painted black border) of the backdrop for the third act of *Songe de la Belle au Bois*. The text for Act III begins with the following description: “the terrace overlooking the sea. The Princess is seated, leaning on her elbows. The end of a summer twilight”. The composition of this scene is a direct legacy of Gauguin’s teachings at Pont-Aven and an illustration of the principles of the Nabis.
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About the sale The Louis Grandchamp des Raux Collection
Auction location
Auction time 10/24/2026 at 4:00 PM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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