400 - Berthe SAVIGNY (1882–1598)

Berthe SAVIGNY (1882–1598) Portrait of Émile BERNARD, 1939 Plaster, signed and dated on the reverse, with a note addressed to Mr. Corelleau 29 x 21.5 cm Provenance: Berthe Savigny Collection, then passed down through the family Exhibition: Quimperlé City Hall, “Unpublished Memories of a Breton Family, 1888–1998,” June 14–September 18, 2006 Bound by a deep friendship and artistic kinship, Berthe Savigny and Émile Bernard collaborated on several occasions and maintained a correspondence until Émile Bernard’s death in 1941. The two plaster masks featured in our auction—which come directly from Berthe Savigny’s collection—bear witness to this unique relationship. Since each artist created a portrait of the other, these works form a particularly moving pair, a true sculpted dialogue between two painters and sculptors. Beyond their artistic merit, these paired portraits offer a precious testament to the intimacy and mutual respect that bound Émile Bernard and Berthe Savigny together.