Théodore DECK (1823-1891) and Paul César HELLEU (1859-1927) - Lot 104

Théodore DECK (1823-1891) and Paul César HELLEU (1859-1927) Earthenware circular dish with polychrome enameled decoration of a portrait of a young woman with a blue bow and a parma necklace on a black background Signed "P. Helleu" in the lower center, stamped "TH. DECK" and monogram "TH.D.", old Deck workshop label annotated "1144" on reverse. Diameter: 30.4 cm (Scratches from use, firing bubbles) Condition report available on request: contact@neo-encheres.com NOTICE Théodore Deck (1823-1891) and Paul César Helleu (1859-1927) are two major figures in French art, each having left their mark in distinct but complementary fields. Paul César Helleu, painter and engraver, studied at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris under Jean-Léon Gérôme, and made friends with influential artists such as James McNeill Whistler, John Singer Sargent, and Claude Monet, whom he met at the Durand-Ruel gallery during the second Impressionist exhibition. Helleu distinguished himself by his mastery of drypoint, a technique he learned from James Tissot, and which enabled him to delicately explore feminine grace, a central theme in his work. He collaborated with Théodore Deck, a renowned ceramist, from 1880, creating refined decors for his ceramic pieces, reflecting the aesthetics and elegance of the late 19th century. Artists close to Helleu and Deck included Giovanni Boldini, famous for his elegant portraits, whose fluid, expressive style harmonized perfectly with Helleu's art. Similarly, James Tissot, with whom Helleu shared a friendship and artistic influences, is renowned for his detailed, sophisticated depictions of society. Alfred Stevens, another great portraitist of the period, is an artist whose refined works of elegant women are similar to those of Helleu. As for ceramists, Deck's contemporaries Auguste Delaherche and Adrien Dalpayrat were also influential in the field of ceramics, exploring with him new techniques and styles in the art of glazed earthenware. Finally, Helleu's mentor Jean-Léon Gérôme represents a direct link between the rigorous academicism of the previous generation and the freer approach of Impressionism, an essential artistic bridge in Helleu's evolution. Together, these artists formed a circle of influences that enriched Helleu's work, contributing to her success as an emblematic artist of feminine elegance in the Belle Époque.