Georges Girardot, Sirens And Orpheus

Trained in Paris by the painter Albert Maignan, Georges Girardot exhibited at the Salon des Artistes Français from 1882 and became a full member in 1883. He received several medals for his work, notably in 1883, 1893, 1896 and 1907. The artist became an associate member of the Academy of Sciences, Belles-Lettres and Arts of Besançon and Franche-Comté from 1907. His body of work consists of intimate scenes, portraits but also still lifes. These genre scenes sit alongside works inspired by biblical and mythological subjects. Sirens, nymphs and saints, painted on large formats, evolve in an omnipresent nature, both realistic and timeless. If Georges Girardot can adopt a tight framing on his characters and his figures are distinguished by a sculptural treatment which gives them a majesty which is reinforced by the realism of the lines. Our small preparatory watercolor for an enamel decoration is inspired by two compositions painted by the artist and presented at the Salon of 1901 and 1907: Le Mistletoe au Ruisseau for the woman with a lyre and Les Dieux s'en vont for the figure of the weeping mermaid (ill. below).