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gallery
June 17, 2016

Lavish Art Deco Fashions, Painted by Erté

By Danielle Cohen

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Photo: Courtesy of Chalk & Vermilion and Seven Arts Ltd

It’s impossible to look back on flapper dresses and 1920s fashions without mentioning the so-called “Father of Art Deco” Romain de Tirtoff, famously known as Erté. The artist’s career spanned over 80 years, during which he designed sets and costumes for both the stage and screen, jewelry, fine art, sculpture, and over 200 covers for Harper’s Bazaar. Known for an unwavering Art Deco style, he was equally renowned for his wide range within the art world, including his wildly popular Alphabet Suite prints, sketches for Paris fashion houses, and cognac bottle designs for Courvoisier.

The artist influenced Twiggy, Stella McCartney, and Barbra Streisand, who owns a large collection of Erté’s work. When Streisand bought an Art Deco Manhattan townhouse in the 1970s, she commissioned a mural and freize by Erté.

This month, the artist’s works will be showcased for the first time at the Hermitage Museum in Russia, where he was born. Opening June 21, the exhibit includes 136 pieces. New York’s Martin Lawrence Gallery in New York also houses an extensive collection.

Click ahead to preview designs from the Hermitage exhibit, including artfully symmetric costumes, gilded accessories, and a woman with a lavish feathered plume forming the number two.

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1 / 15 Photos
Cosmetic Pallette, a hand-signed serigraph. Photo: Courtesy of Chalk & Vermilion and Seven Arts Ltd.
Costume designs for Aladdin and his Bride for a 1929 performance of Aladdin at the Folies Bergere. Photo: Courtesy of Chalk & Vermilion and Seven Ar... Costume designs for Aladdin and his Bride for a 1929 performance of Aladdin at the Folies Bergere. Photo: Courtesy of Chalk & Vermilion and Seven Arts Ltd.
Ebony and White, a hand-signed serigraph. Photo: Courtesy of Chalk & Vermilion and Seven Arts Ltd.
Letter L from Erté’s Alphabet suite, which Erté began in the mid-1920's and did not complete until 1967, when it was exhi... Letter L from Erté’s Alphabet suite, which Erté began in the mid-1920's and did not complete until 1967, when it was exhibited in London.  Photo: Courtesy of Chalk & Vermilion and Seven Arts Ltd.
Numeral 2 from Erté’s Numerals suite, conceptualized after the success of the 1967 Alphabet exhibit and the first series th... Numeral 2 from Erté’s Numerals suite, conceptualized after the success of the 1967 Alphabet exhibit and the first series that Erté produced in print. Photo: Courtesy of Chalk & Vermilion and Seven Arts Ltd.
Loge de Théâtre, a hand-signed serigraph. Photo: Courtesy of Chalk & Vermilion and Seven Arts Ltd.
Costume designs for the Mother of Pearl Ballet, performed in 1922 at L'Alcazar de Marseilles. Photo: Courtesy of Chalk & Vermilion and Seven Arts Lt... Costume designs for the Mother of Pearl Ballet, performed in 1922 at L'Alcazar de Marseilles. Photo: Courtesy of Chalk & Vermilion and Seven Arts Ltd.
Motherhood, based on a 1924 set design for Les Idoles.  Photo: Courtesy of Chalk & Vermilion and Seven Arts Ltd.
Star Spangled Night, a cover design for the August 1934 issue of Harpers Bazaar. Photo: Courtesy of Chalk & Vermilion and Seven Arts Ltd.
Earrings, bracelet, and ring. Photo: Courtesy of Chalk & Vermilion and Seven Arts Ltd.
Printemps, based on a 1919 series of costume designs for Princess Aline, Mirabelle, and Galatee in Les Rois de Legendes. Photo: Courtesy of Chalk & ... Printemps, based on a 1919 series of costume designs for Princess Aline, Mirabelle, and Galatee in Les Rois de Legendes. Photo: Courtesy of Chalk & Vermilion and Seven Arts Ltd.
Robes Nouvelle, a cover design for the October 1927 issue of Harpers Bazaar. Photo: Courtesy of Chalk & Vermilion and Seven Arts Ltd.
Robes de Soir, a cover design for the December 1921 issue of Harpers Bazaar. Photo: Courtesy of Chalk & Vermilion and Seven Arts Ltd.
Starfish. Photo: Courtesy of Chalk & Vermilion and Seven Arts Ltd.
White Tie, serigraph. Photo: Courtesy of Chalk & Vermilion and Seven Arts Ltd.
1 / 15

Tags:

  • erte
  • hermitage museum
  • russia
  • romain de tirtoff
  • art deco
  • martin lawrence gallery
  • gallery
  • fashions
  • slideshows
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