JEAN DUPAS (1882-1964)

During Jean Dupas' residency at the Villa Medici in Rome, Italy, he produced 'Les Pigeons Blancs', a painting depicting four female nudes in an idyllic landscape surrounded by fluttering white pigeons while two parrots play with an assortment of fruit. This work was presented at the 1922 Salon des Artistes Français where it received a gold medal and much acclaim. The painting is said to be Dupas' last work produced in Rome and has since been lost. However, studies of the piece, such as the present drawing, provide an alluring insight into the artist's process and rise to success as one of the most renowned Art Deco artist and designer of the twentieth century.