LOUIS RHEAD (1857-1926) [SWANS]. 1897. 32 1/2x60 3/4 inches. Condition B+: repaired tears, creases and overpainting in margins and image. Born and trained in London, Rhead moved to New York in 1883 as an art director for a small publisher. An emulate of Grasset (which he publicly acknowledged) he was a key figure in the development of the poster in the U.S., creating over 100 of them in the 1890s. He was honored in 1897 with a one man show of 60 of his poster projects at the Salon des Cent<>, for which he (like so many others artists) designed the poster. It seems certain that La Plume<> took advantage of this occasion to commission him to design two decorative panels, the Swans<> and the Peacocks<>, as panels were a market that was becoming increasingly popular, successful and lucrative. A masterpiece of decorative Art Nouveau, and printed in an impressive 8 colors, the Album d'Affiches et d'Estampes<>, April 1, 1899, offers the panels at the price of 12 francs each, or 20 francs for both of them! Album d'Affiches et d'Estampes, April 1, 1899, nos. 1 and 2, DFP I 454.
![LOUIS RHEAD (1857-1926) [SWANS]. 1897. 32x60 inches.](https://catalogue.swanngalleries.com/full//965\514965.jpg)
