Alphonse Mucha "La Princesse Lointaine" Lithograph
$17,500
This lithograph by the renowned French Art Nouveau artist, Alphonse Mucha, is an exquisite portrait of Sarah Bernhardt in the role of "La Princesse Lointaine." Her image is used here for publicizing "LU" (Lefévre-Utile) biscuits, with a handwritten testimonial by the actress herself, stating, "Je ne trouve rien de meilleur qu'un petit LU; oh si, deux petits LU," which translates to, "I haven't found anything better than a little LU—oh yes, two little LU."
- Product Details
- Curator's Notes
Item #: ML-18570
Artist: Alphonse Mucha
Circa: 1904
Dimensions: 27.25" height, 19.5" width (unframed); 36" height, 28.75" width (framed)
Materials: Handmade paper, Japanese silk pongee matte, giltwood and gesso frame
Signed: Signed and dated in plate/Imp. "F. Champenois - Paris"
Literature: Lithograph pictured in Alphonse Mucha: The Complete Posters and Panels, by Jack Rennert and Alain Weill, pp. 308-309, plate 86
"La Princesse Lointaine" was one of Sarah Bernhardt's great successes, a play written for her by Edmond Rostand, based an old medieval tale, shown for the first time in 1895. She played Melisande, daughter of one of the crusader kings from Tripoli, who becomes famous far and wide for her beauty. The Lefèvre-Utile Company also used other artists to produce posters in this series which featured testimonials by prominent personalities; many were also issued as postcards.