“Les Indes venant au secours des alliés” esquisse, for the decor of  Sir Philip Sassoon’s salon in Port Lympne en 1915, destroyed.

 I was on my way to the première of « Trompe la Mort », a contemporary opera by Luca Francesconi with a fascinating direction by Guy Cassiers, when I casually walked into the Galerie Emeric Hahn, rue Saint Anne, on the invitation of Philippe Godoy, better known in Paris as « the Prince » of the 2^nd arrondissement. This dear and faithful friend had alerted me on a discreet show of Catalan painter José Maria Sert, well known for his fabulous décors for the Rothschilds, the Wendels and Coco Chanel in the 1920’s and celebrated at Petit Palais five years ago.

Les Saltimbanques, Study for costumes, gouache on white paper, 1938

What a fabulous show of 40 paintings, sketches and preparatory works for his large frescoes! From Hotel Singer Polignac in Paris, Kent House in London, Sir Philip Sassoon’s Port Lympne or Château de Laversine, all the paintings are joyous, intimate and at human size. One can delight in his different tones of dark red and purple on gold or silver, his very unique trademark.

“Humanity destroyed”, project for the Salle du Conseil du Palais des Nations, 1936, Geneva

The gallery run by Emeric Hahn specializes in little known quality 17 th to 19 th century painters. But this time he made an exception: when he heard in Barcelona that a large collector of Sert wanted to sell his paintings, he immediately started his research and organized the show. It is his passion for Catalan culture that led him to this encounter. 

Paths to Victory, Project for the Alcazar palace chapel in Toledo, 1943, never made.

Many of the decors have been destroyed and these projects are therefore even more precious. In Maastricht, a large work by Sert was visible from far away in the alleys, with its dark red almost purple paint on gold. Joyous scenes from “L’entre deux guerres” as 20’s and 30’s are called in France, rival with darker ones from his mystical Toledo period in 1943. Some interesting projects of decors for Paul Claudel’s “L’Annonce faite à Marie” and costumes for Diaghilev in “Les Saltimbanques” alternate with “Peace resurrected” painted for Société des Nations in Geneva.

“La Reine de Saba”, Project for the ball room of Maurice de Wendel, 1924,

“The Queen of Saba”, realized for Maurice de Wendel on avenue de New York is now at Musée Carnavalet. An esquisse is shown at the gallery painted in red on silver wood. Thre is a frescoe of “Sinbad the sailor” made in Palm Beach for Joshue Cosden’s house in his music room and three works are for sale here. Baron Becker’s house in Brussels is also well documented with three colorful oils. 

Ramon Casa, portrait of Jose Maria Sert

This exhibition is a real discovery and a fantastic pleasure. Works range from 8 000€ to 20 000€ and ten were already sold at the vernissage. A detailed catalog explains each project. Run to 63 rue St Anne, tel 01 49 27 06 23 and enjoy! (until April 15)