Alphonse Mucha

(Czech, 1860-1939)

La Dame aux camélias

, 1896

lithograph

79 1/2 x 27 1/2 inches.

Property from Palm Springs Art Museum, Palm Springs, California. Sold to Support the Care of Collections and the Mary Silver Fund for Acquisitions

Literature:

Wagner 70

Provenance:

Mary and Louis Silver French Art Poster Collection

Bequest of Mary Silver, Palm Springs, California

Lot Notes:

Mucha's dreamy pastels and subtle glitter, as well as his innovative use of the larger-than-life format, made this poster a tremendous splash. It shows the actress Sarah Bernhardt in the play La Dame aux camélias (known as Camille in English) by Alexandre Dumas fils. Mucha designed contemporary costumes for Bernhardt's production of this historic play, and they set notable fashion trends in Paris when the production ran.

Framed: 92 x 40 inches.

Not examined out of frame, backed to linen, uneven toning to sheet and surface dirt throughout, vertical crease running through length of sheet approximately 9 ½ inches from the right edge of image, areas of restoration mostly concentrated in the center of the print where the two sheets meet, creasing, area of restoration in center of figure approximately 1 inch in length, multiples repaired tears and staining in central area.

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Prints and Multiples

La Dame aux camélias

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