'Reclining Nude' by Guillaume Dulac (circa 1920s)

'Reclining Nude', oil on canvas, by Guillaume Dulac (circa 1920s). A sensuous portrayal by the artist of a young woman reclining on a divan draped with cloth. Inspired perhaps from Ingres' (1780-1867) classic, La Grande Odalisque, painted in 1814, yet it differs in some key ways. Odalisque directly translates to maid or chambermaid. That particular pose incorporates a central reclined figure often associated with seduction and exoticism. Women portrayed in this pose are rendered looking directly at the viewer, exuding an air of flirtation and confidence as if offering herself to the audience. In Dulac's depiction however, the model's eyes are closed with an arm raised, clinging to the wooden top of the of studio divan. This appears to be more of a subdued, demure pose than that of Ingres' rendition, if that is possible to be said of a figure with no clothing. One may suppose that it is simply an artist's personal interpretation of a classic work of art. Certainly the placement of the fabrics (rather than the colours) pays homage to Ingres' Odalisque. Dulac also employs a deft touch and a delicate brushstroke throughout. The evident quality and desirability of his artwork are incongruent with the recognition the artist received in his lifetime. His untimely death exacerbated this circumstance. Fortunately, the tide has turned. The art market now acknowledges Dulac's talent and skill. His works are now enthusiastically pursued at auction by loyal and determined international collectors.

This gallery retained the original frame as it was, filled with antique character in the form of nicks, scratches and blemishes, in addition to its original nameplate. In an important way, this compensates for the artist's not having signed this work. The reverse side also has an old sticker with Dulac's name, perhaps from a museum or gallery that exhibited his works. As a gallery that has sold and currently owns a significant portion of Dulac's pieces, there is no doubt as to its provenance. A certificate of authenticity comes with the artwork. Commensurate with its age, the artwork is showing some minor cracking of the paint however, it has recently been reconditioned and cleaned by an art restoration professional and is in overall good condition. Please enjoy the many photos accompanying this listing. Upon request, a video will be provided. 

Dimensions with Frame:

H 45 cm / 17.7"

W 83 cm / 32.7"

Dimensions without frame:

H 36 cm / 14.2"

W 73 cm / 28.7"

About the Artist: Guillaume Dulac (1883-1929) is a French artist born in the 19th century. He was a close associate of other well known artists such as Charles Camoin and Albert Marquet. He exhibited his works in Paris' Salon des Indépendents in 1905, in the Salon de l'Union Artistique of Toulouse in 1908-1910 and had an artistic presence in the Salon de la Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts. His last exhibit was in the Salon des Tuileries in June of 1929. In December of that same year, his body was recovered having drowned in the Seine river and then moved to the noted Père-Lachaise cemetery. Because of the evident quality and desirability of his art, In La Ciotat, France, near Marseille, there is a street named after this artist: l'Avenue Guillaume Dulac.