Georges Antoine Rochegrosse (1859-1938), Le Flirt d'Autrefois, Circa 1919, Signed

Georges Antoine Rochegrosse (1859-1938), the flirtation of yesteryear, circa 1919 Oil on canvas mounted on panel, 41 x 33.5 cm Present in many museums Rochegrosse is a complete artist who explored history painting and symbolism before becoming a talented orientalist, he received many praises including that of the writer Arthur Conan Doyle. Recognition comes from his first salon in 1882 where he is medalist, he receives the Legion of Honor ten years later in 1892. muse and companion Marie Leblon in antique pieces where he also appears, like a self-portrait of their idyll. Met in 1894, married in 1896, Marie remained his faithful female model until her death in 1920 from an illness contracted at the hospital in Algiers where she was a nurse. From the death of his wife his painting laden with shimmering colors (La Mort de la Pourpre or Le Chevalier aux fleurs testify to his talents as a colorist) darkens and is restricted to representations of his garden from his Algerian villa until at his death in 1938. Our painting is probably the first completed sketch for the 1919 painting of larger format and with some differences (sold on sale in Calais in 2002). Provenance: - Artist's studio, his stamp on the back. - French private collection