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Premium Maître Bruce ROELENS
247
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George DESVALLIERES (1861-1950). "The Ascension, God the Fat…
See original version (French)
247
-
George DESVALLIERES (1861-1950). "The Ascension, God the Fat…
See original version (French)
Estimate €800 - €1,000
Mixed sale
Description
George DESVALLIERES (1861-1950). "The Ascension, God the Father, sketch", 1926. Pastel and oil on paper mounted on wood (Dim.: 120 x 78 cm)
(CR 1827)
Provenance: Seine-Port, private collection, 1962 (by descent)
"Comment: "This large sketch from the third caisson represents God the Father on his throne, assisted by the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove and framed by celestial creatures with, on the right, the archangel paying homage to him. It will be exhibited at the Galerie Druet as evidence of the work carried out over the course of a summer, and already mounted in Pawtucket. The colours are lighter than those of the final panel. (Catherine Ambroselli De-Bayser, "Georges Desvallières - Catalogue raisonné de l'Œuvre complet", Ed. Somogy éditions d'art, Paris, 2015, tome III, p474)
As a child, Georges Desvallières already demonstrated a talent for drawing. Thanks to his grandfather, the academician Ernest Legouvé, the painter Jules-Elie Delaunay (1828-1891), a friend of the latter, helped to awaken little Georges' talent. The young Desvallières continued his training under Gustave Moreau (1826-1898). Admitted to the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in 1879, he joined Alexandre Cabanel's studio, but only stayed a few months.
A close friend of Gustave Moreau, he set up his studio near Moreau's home. He also had a correspondence with Georges Rouault (1871-1958), a pupil of Moreau. From 1883 until 1901, he exhibited at the Salon des artistes français.
Born into an unpractising family, he distanced himself from Catholicism before being encouraged, by Huysmans in particular, to return to this spirituality. Going against the tide of secularisation that was sweeping civil society at the time, he returned to his Christian faith and painted more and more religious subjects.
He took part in the international exhibition of modern Christian art organised at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris by the Société de Saint-Jean (founded for the development of Christian art), and later became its vice-president along with Maurice Denis. He joined the Dominican Third Order and in 1912 published a manifesto in favour of a school of sacred art.
During the First World War, Georges Desvallières gave up painting to join the 6th Territorial Battalion of Foot Chasseurs (BTCA). His sons, Richard and Daniel, were both mobilised. Daniel, a student at the Académie de la Grande Chaumière, was mowed down by shellfire at the age of 17.
During a dangerous mission in enemy territory, Georges Desvallières vowed to devote his painting to God. When he returned unscathed, he fulfilled this vow, abandoning secular subjects for good. He went so far as to combine the Passion of Christ and the sacrifice of the poilu in "Sacré Cœur dans un éclatement" (Sacred Heart in a Burst) in 1920.
When the war ended in 1919, he and Maurice Denis opened the ateliers d'art sacré. This school broke away from the organisation of the academy and was intended to be a workshop with students, apprentices to the master, as in the Middle Ages, responding to specific commissions; it was the beginning of major decorative projects.
See original version (French)
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Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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