JULES CHÉRET (1836-1932) MUSÉE GRÉVIN / PALAIS DES MIRAGES. 1911.
47 3/4x33 1/4 inches, 121 1/4x84 1/2 cm. Chaix, Paris.
Condition A: pencil marking in lower margin. Framed. Unexamined out of frame.
The Palais des Mirages [Hall of Mirrors] was an attraction at the 1900 Exposition Universelle in Paris. In 1906 it was bought by the Musée Grévin where it found a permanent home when it opened to the public in 1911. To promote the opening, the museum decided to play with nostalgia. They turned to Chéret, who had designed the first poster for the museum back in 1884. Chéret may well have taken the commission for nostalgic reasons as well as by this time he was 75 years old, living in Nice and rapidly loosing his eyesight. His design, a spritely Cherette, is reminiscent of the images he created for the dancer Loie Fuller. rare. We have found only four other copies at auction since 1986. Cheret 611, Broido 470.