156 - After DEMÉTRE CHIPARUS (Dorohoi, Romania, 1886–Paris, 1947).

After DEMÉTRE CHIPARUS (Dorohoi, Romania, 1886–Paris, 1947). "Assyrian Dancer." Patinated bronze on a marble base. Signed “Chiparus.” Later casting. Measurements: 26.5 x 18.5 x 10.5 cm. Provenance: Estate of Ramon Martí Alsina and Ricard Martí Aguiló. Artistic and heritage collection originating in the legacy of Catalan painters Ramon Martí Alsina (1826–1894), a seminal figure of 19th-century Catalan Realism, and his son Ricard Martí Aguiló (1857–1935). Passed down and enriched across successive generations, the collection brings together works from the original holdings of both artists alongside acquisitions made by their descendants. Dedicated to preserving and recovering the family legacy, the descendants actively reacquired works by the painters as they entered the market, progressively expanding the collection to encompass paintings, sculptures, archaeological artifacts, and other items of artistic and historical significance. The sculpture draws on the world of Oriental-style dancers that made Demétre Chiparus one of the most recognizable figures in Art Deco sculpture. The figure leans sharply forward with outstretched arms and open palms, while the long dress flows in deep folds down to the base. The elaborate headdress, jewelry, and stylized attire accentuate the exotic and theatrical character of an iconography closely linked to the interwar taste for dance and the performances of the Ballets Russes. Demétre Chiparus pursued his career in Paris and was one of the most prominent figures in Art Deco decorative sculpture. He trained with Antonin Mercié and Jean Boucher and achieved particular recognition in the 1920s and 1930s for his dancers and female figures inspired by ballet, music hall, and Orientalism. His work is represented in major collections of decorative arts and stands as one of the most recognizable examples of Art Deco sculpture.