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Lot Essay
Jacques Chalom des Cordes will include this painting in his forthcoming van Dongen catalogue raisonné being prepared under the sponsorship of the Wildenstein Institute.
The present work depicts one of the greatest comic actors of his time, Lucien Guitry (1860-1925), in the role of Molière's sanctimonious hypocrite, Tartuffe. First performed for the royal party of King Louis XIV of France at Versailles in 1664 and initially interpreted and criticised as an attack on religion, the play presented a hitherto unseen sober side to Molière's genius. The character of Tartuffe is described with a strength and precision which few dramatists have equalled and Guitry's portrayal of this complex character in 1923 was a very personal interpretation, verging on the sombre by playing heavily on his social inferiority. Guitry's performance was widely celebrated and the present work was executed the following year, the year before Guitry died. Lucien was father to Sacha Guitry (1885-1957), the equally celebrated film actor, and played several pieces with him towards the end of his life.
The present work depicts one of the greatest comic actors of his time, Lucien Guitry (1860-1925), in the role of Molière's sanctimonious hypocrite, Tartuffe. First performed for the royal party of King Louis XIV of France at Versailles in 1664 and initially interpreted and criticised as an attack on religion, the play presented a hitherto unseen sober side to Molière's genius. The character of Tartuffe is described with a strength and precision which few dramatists have equalled and Guitry's portrayal of this complex character in 1923 was a very personal interpretation, verging on the sombre by playing heavily on his social inferiority. Guitry's performance was widely celebrated and the present work was executed the following year, the year before Guitry died. Lucien was father to Sacha Guitry (1885-1957), the equally celebrated film actor, and played several pieces with him towards the end of his life.