Alphonse Mucha Pair of "Byzantine Heads" Lithographs
$47,500
This pair of "Byzantine Heads" lithographs, by Alphonse Mucha, picture two women—portrayed in profile—decorated with beautiful jewelry, the richness and oriental nature of which suggested the name for the series. This is the first appearance of the perfect form of Mucha's often-used motif, a circle framing each head, interrupted by a strand of hair. With this device, it is as if Mucha's unreachable beauties have broken the magic border between themselves and their admirers, and suggest the possibility that they might, perhaps, meet. Sold exclusively as matching set.
- Product Details
- Curator's Notes
Item #: ML-17602
Artist: Alphonse Mucha
Circa: 1897
Dimensions: 20.5" height, 14.25" width each (unframed); 29.5" height, 23" width each (framed)
Materials: Paper, Modern giltwood and gesso frame
Signed: Mucha
Literature: Lithographs pictured in Alphonse Mucha, The Complete Posters and Panels, by Jack Rennert and Alain Weill, p. 167, cat. 40, variant 1
In this version of the "Byzantine Heads," Mucha added corners, filigreed with curves to the original circular designs, in order to create the standard rectangular shape of decorative panels. This is the rarest and most sought out of all of the motif variants.