CASINO DE LA MEDITERRANEE. Gouache maquette. Circa 1928. 231/2x16 inches. Condition B+: tear through bottom margin; pinholes in corners; tears and minor losses in margins; light foxing in image. Paper. This project, hand-signed by the artist in pencil, was submitted by Chassaing for the opening of the Palais de la Mediterranee in Nice in 1928. It's simple, yet elegant, with a graduated blue background and two nicely stylized sea horses. Clearly intended as a stock poster, the center of the image has been left empty so a weekly program of activities could be imprinted. Had the casino chosen to use this design, the print run would have numbered in the thousands. As no printed copy of this image has ever surfaced, it seems likely that the project was never realized. In fact, it was fellow designer Maurice Lauro, who also printed at Chachoin, whose design was eventually chosen for the opening. His was a more commercial and fashionable design, much like his work for Trouville (see lot ???).
