Georges Antoine Rochegrosse (1859 –1938), Blind man's buff

Georges Antoine Rochegrosse (Versailles 1859 – El-Biar 1938) Blind man's buff Oil on canvas, 67.5 × 42.5 cm Signature on the upper left: G. Rochegrosse The amusing game of a child elevates itself to the protagonist of this Pompeiian scene realized by the French painter Georges Antoine Rochegrosse (Versailles 1859 – El-Biar 1938). Georges Rochegrosse, French historical and decorative painter, was born in Versailles in 1859. His life was marked by important artistic and literary figures from childhood: abandoned by his father, he grew up with his stepfather, the great poet Théodore de Banville, in an intellectual and stimulating environment. He began studying with Alfred Dehodencq and at the age of 12 he entered the Académie Julian under the guidance of Gustave Boulanger and Jules Lefebvre, where he later became a teacher. Thanks to the freer environment of the Académie Julian, Rochegrosse also participated in the École des Beaux-Arts, reaching the final for the Prix de Rome twice. In 1883 he won the Prix du Salon, which allowed him to visit Italy, Belgium, Holland and Germany. Around 1890 he married his beloved Marie Leblond, who for about 30 years was the main model of his heroines. Starting in 1900, Rochegrosse and Marie spent the winters in El-Biar, Algeria, where the painter often found the oriental backgrounds for his compositions. He made his debut at the Salon de la Société des Artistes Français in 1882 with "Vitellius dragged through the streets of Rome by the plebs". He also participated in the Salon de la Société des Aquarellistes Français. In Algeria, he was active in the Salon des Artistes Algériens et Orientalistes, in the Union Artistique de l’Afrique du Nord and in the Syndicat Professionnel des Artistes Algériens. Among the awards he received the Prix du Salon in 1883; of which he became a member of the Salon in 1887; a bronze medal at the Universal Exposition of 1889 and an honorary medal in 1906. He was appointed Officier of the Légion d'Honneur in 1910 and was a permanent member of the Salon jury. Using his narrative skills and his undisputed expertise, Rochegrosse illustrated several literary works, including "The Oresteia" by Aeschylus in 1889, "Hérodias" by Flaubert in 1892, "Salammbô" by Flaubert in 1900 and works by Victor Hugo, Théophile Gautier and Prince Demidoff. Growing up in the shadow of a giant of literature like his stepfather, Rochegrosse boldly followed in the footsteps of Delacroix: in his early years, the subjects came from the Egyptian, Roman and Byzantine civilizations, for which Banville helped him to reconstruct authentic details. The end of this period was marked by the great success of his "Death of Babylon" at the Salon. Rochegrosse remained fascinated by Wagnerian mythology and painted The Mastersingers of Nuremberg and Tannhäuser, while Parsifal inspired him for Knight with flowers. In his later phase he tackled allegorical themes and returned to dramatic subjects with a historical basis, such as the Assassination of Emperor Geta. Starting from 1900, spending the winters in El-Biar, Rochegrosse preferred to choose subjects that would allow him to exploit the oriental settings that surrounded him. His fame was such that even in Sherlock Holmes, Conan Doyle praises one of his paintings. The present composition set in a Roman interior can be considered the result of his early production, one that is still strongly influenced by the teachings of de Banville and that neopompeian culture that spread thanks to the intensification of excavations in the cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum. The object is in good condition With Ars Antiqua it is possible to defer all amounts up to a maximum of €7,500 at ZERO RATE, for a total of 15 INSTALLMENTS. Ex. Tot. €4,500 = Monthly installment €300 for 15 months. Ex. Tot. €3,600 = Monthly installment €720 for 5 months. For amounts greater than €7,500 or for a longer extension of time (over 15 installments), we can provide a personalized payment. Contact us directly to get the best quote. LIVE TV – SUNDAY 17.00 – 21.00 Dig.terr. 126 + 809 SKY - THURSDAY 21.00 - 23.00 Dig.terr. 134 + 809 SKY – Streaming on our website www.arsantiquasrl.com and on our social networks Facebook and Youtube All the works proposed by Ars Antiqua are sold accompanied by a certificate of authenticity according to law and an accurate in-depth sheet. It is possible to see the works directly at the Milan showroom gallery, in via Pisacane 55 and 57. We personally organize the transport and delivery of the works, both for Italy and abroad.