Georges PICARD (Remiremont, 1857 Paris, 1946)
ELFE DANCING.
Oil on panel, unsigned.
33 x 26.2 cm.

A collection of works by Georges PICARD (Remiremont, 1857-Paris, 1946)

Georges PICARD began in GEROME's workshop at the Ecole Nationale des Beaux Arts.
In 1879, he was honoured there by PHILIPPOTEAUX and collaborated with him on the panoramas that the artist created for America.
In 1888, his works were admitted and exhibited at the Salon. The Ministry of Public Works bought a painting entitled "Le port du Havre" from the Salon des Beaux-Arts in 1891.
He studied the art of fresco, a technique he put at the service of CLAIRIN who then decorated a private mansion in Neuilly.
Then, successively, he worked with GERVEX and STEVENS on a triptych for the 1889 Universal Exhibition.
That same year, the Hôtel de Ville de Paris offered the artists the decoration of the LOBAU gallery.
The first competition was cancelled due to the poor quality of the projects submitted.
Georges PICARD applied in 1890: he obtained the first premium set by the Commission at 120,000 F. Thus, in addition to his activity as a Salon painter, he devoted eight years to the execution of this allegory aimed at the glorification of Paris.
An erudite painter, he proceeds methodically and in accordance with tradition, carrying out numerous preparatory studies (sketches, drawings, modelli...) before designing his paintings.
In 1898, he created "Autumn and Spring" for the Salon de l'Europe at the Monte Carlo Casino.
In 1905, he was in charge of decorating the ceremonial dining room and the festival hall of the French Embassy in Vienna.
He delivers a diorama featuring "Le Château de Versailles et la Place de la Concorde" and a fresco "Les Plaisirs de la vie" for the Salon (now disappeared).
In 1906, he obtained the decoration of the ceilings of the southern pavilion of the Petit Palais des Beaux-Arts.
A series of commissions, private or official, followed:
- "The Apotheosis of Paris" for the Colon Theatre of Buenos Aires, Argentina.
- A "Wine Allegory" for Mr Cochet's hotel in Reims.
- "L'Aurore", ceiling of the festival hall of the 15th century common house.
Georges PICARD, in parallel with his career as an easel painter, collaborated and drew for many newspapers; he illustrated the "Contes de Perrault" in particular.