11 - EMILE VLOORS (1871–1952)

EMILE VLOORS (1871–1952) The Offering to Aphrodite signed (lower left) oil on canvas 53 x 34.7 cm. (20.87 × 13 11/16 in.) Painted in 1894 oil on canvas Footnotes: Born in Borgerhout (Antwerp) in 1871, Emile Vloors was a painter, draftsman, and sculptor. After studying art at the Higher Institute of Fine Arts in his hometown, he settled in Paris. Early in his career, his work was influenced by Impressionism. Later, he became associated with the Société nationale des beaux-arts, where he met Léon Bonnat and Puvis de Chavannes. The influence of these two artists led him toward an increasingly decorative style of painting. His favorite subjects drew inspiration, in particular, from Greek antiquity and allegorical themes. Upon returning to Belgium, he associated with Symbolist painters, notably Jean Delville, Émile Fabry, and Constant Montald, with whom he founded the Société de l’Art Monumental in Brussels. The society promoted the integration of painting, sculpture, and architecture. Having won the Prix de Rome in 1898 and received numerous honorary distinctions at exhibitions in Paris, Antwerp, and Brussels, Vloors gained considerable recognition and received important public commissions. In 1913, he notably decorated part of the ceilings of the Royal Opera House in Antwerp. In 1923, he was appointed director of the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp. He also produced a series of sculptures and applied-art designs distinguished by their exceptional craftsmanship. *Offering to Aphrodite* is a work of rare sensuality. Its fluid style, luminosity, and subtle touches of yellow, green, and red evoke the recent influence of Impressionism. The graceful young woman who served as the model was most likely Louise Laridon (1868–1943), his companion, who would later become his wife. For further information on this lot, please visit Bonhams.com