MAURICE LELOIR (1851-1940) GRAND SUCCESS / LA CITOYENNE COTILLON. 54 3/4x39 1/8 inches. Wall & Cie., Paris. Condition B+: minor restored losses and time-staining in vertical and horizontal folds. Born into a family of artists, Maurice Leloir had a very active artistic life. He was a painter, engraver, illustrator, costume historian, set designer and film producer. Leloir also designed posters for operas by Jules Massenet. Leloir's 1894 illustrations for "The Three Musketeers" inspired Douglas Fairbanks to call on Leloir from France to be the artistic advisor for "The Man in the Iron Mask." Leloir also founded the Costume Society, and wrote and illustrated the Dictionary of Costume. All of his many talents are on display here in this dramatic image of a woman in a luxurious costume. In 1920 Leloir donated his collection of costumes to the Museé Carnavalet, in Paris.
