Viewing page 7 of 13

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

REDON, ODILON (1840- 1916)

"CENTAURE AU VIOLONCELLE"

Ca. 1900- 1916

Drawing, black crayon on buff paper
18-1/4" x 14-1/2"

Signed lower right "Od. R."

The centaur in the middle of the picture is sitting with his horse-like back on the ground. His human upper portion of the body, is raised to play the cello which is propped up in front of him. The bald, but bearded head is regarding the instrument. Behind him is seen a bright but clouded sky. Foliage surrounds him.

Collection: Ambroise Vollard

Exhibited: "Redon Exhibition", Jacques Seligmann & Co., N.Y.,Oct. 22-Nov. 10, 1951
travelled to :-
Cleveland Mus. of Art, Cleveland, Ohio, Nov. 29, 1951-Jan. 20, 1952; & Walker Art Center, Minneapolis, Minn. Feb. 1- Mar.1, 1952
No. 31 of joint catalogue, and reproduced. "Visionaries and Dreamers", Corcoran Gallery, Washington, D.C., April 7- May 27, 1956, No. 65.

Note: Prof. Meyer Shapiro of Columbia University traces the subject of the centaur with bass violin to a Pompeian painting representing the cenaur Chiron teaching Achilles to play the lyre, and in a Greek writer of the Roman period, Philostratus (who describes painting), there is an account of a picture of Chiron and Achilles in which it is said that the eye of the centaur is gentle because he has become cultured through music. the bass violin is a modern interpretation of the musical instrument.

Reproduced in Roger Marx, "Redon"

Selling prce:$1,100.

Jacques Seligmann Gallery