Ga Rochegrosse (1859-1938) A Seated Man, Study Exposition Internationale Paris 1900

Georges Antoine Rochegrosse (1859-1938)
A man sitted, Study for the decoration of the Salle des fêtes (Ballroom) of the Exposition Internationale, Paris 1900
Pencil and charcoal on thin yellow paper
29.5 x 20 cm
In acceptable condition : Tears and creases as visible on the photographs.
In a modern frame : 46 x 36.5 cm
Annotations on the back of the mount (now under the modern frame) that identifiy this drawing as a preparatory study for the decoration of the Salle des fêtes (Ballroom) of the 1900 Paris Exposition Internationale. It's also indicated that Henri Bataille, friend of Rochegrosse was the original model. (see photograph please)

Provenance: Estate of the artist and by Inheritance to the former owner

This drawing, once part of artist's estate, is a very interesting testimony of the way the artist used to work and conceive a large decoration. It was also used in the course of the project, that's why it's not in perfect condition. George Antoine Rochegrosse received the commission of the decoration of the Salle des fêtes of the 1900 Exposition Internationale of Paris and collaborated for this project with Fernand Cormon, François Flameng and Albert Maignan. There are very few documents remaining about this decoration, but I had the opportunity to receive from a dedicated and passionnate specialist of Rochegrosse'works, documents who show the composition : our sitted gentleman was placed on the right, as an attentive observer. It appears also that the drawing itself was published in the Figaro illustré. (see photographs please)

Georges-Antoine Rochegrosse was born to Élise Marie Bourotte (1828-1904) and Jules Jean Baptiste Rochegrosse who died in 1874. In 1875, his mother remarried with the poet Théodore de Banville, of which Georges-Antoine became the adopted son. He frequented the artists and authors his stepfather receivesd at his home: Paul Verlaine , Mallarmé , Arthur Rimbaud , Victor Hugo and Gustave Flaubert . He began his training as a painter with Alfred Dehodencq , then entered the Académie Julian in Paris in 1871, in the workshops of Jules Joseph Lefebvre and Gustave Boulanger and he ended his studies at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris . At the beginning of his career, he practiced history painting and symbolist art . Recognized painter and appreciated by good society, Rochegrosse was appointed knight of the Legion of Honor in 1892. Then he turned to Orientalism by discovering Algeria in 1894, where he met Marie Leblon, whom he married in 1896. She was the love of her life, his wife, his muse and his model. He settled with his wife in El Biar, on the outskirts of Algiers, in 1900. He made the trip to Paris each summer where he was a member of the jury of the Salon des artistes français. In 1910, Rochegrosse commissioned a workshop, Dar es Saouar , where he received his students. The same year, he was promoted to officer of the Legion of Honor. He was admired by his contemporaries, in particular his stepfather Théodore de Banville or Conan Doyle. He was deeply affected by the First World War and the death of his wife in 1920 following an illness contracted at the hospital in Algiers where she was a nurse. Inconsolable, he goes so far as to add Marie's M to his signature (GM Rochegrosse).