Henri Manguin
1874-1949 | French

Nature morte aux cyclamens

Oil on canvas
Signed "Manguin" (upper right)

Brilliant color and expressive brushwork radiate from this Fauvist masterpiece by Henri Manguin entitled Nature morte aux cyclamens. Such a striking still life at this impressive scale by Manguin is a rare find today and a testament to the artist’s unparalleled sense of color and gestural fervor. These bold stylistic qualities were so prominent that he was dubbed “the voluptuous painter.”

This dynamic composition is bursting with the full spectrum of rich reds and verdant greens that swirl together across the patterned tablecloth, piles of fruit and charming floral arrangements. Manguin’s masterful use of complementary colors and painterly brushstrokes draws the viewer into the room’s lush, moody atmosphere. As a key member of the Fauves, Manguin honed an exaggerated and daring palette to move beyond the realism of the Impressionists. Nature morte aux cyclamens is a celebration of pattern, color and painterliness, recalling the influential canvases of Cézanne and Manguin’s close friend, Henri Matisse.

Painted around 1912, this still life comes on the heels of Manguin’s involvement in the major milestones of the Fauvist movement. During his studies at the École des Beaux-Arts in 1894, Manguin befriended Albert Marquet and Henri Matisse. These leading artistic minds and many others continued to frequent Manguin’s garden studio, christening it as a foundational birthplace of the Fauves. Manguin was also included in both the Salon des Indépendants and Salon d’Automne exhibitions of 1905 that solidified the Fauves as the avant-garde artistic force at the turn of the century.

Manguin remained faithful to the Fauvist aesthetic throughout the remainder of his career, as evidenced by the intensity exuding from Nature morte aux cyclamens. Along with his nude bathers and jewel-toned scenes of the French Riviera, Manguin is best known as a master of captivating still lifes like this one. He garnered significant acclaim early on in his career from influential critics and champions of the avant-garde like the eminent Ambroise Vollard, who purchased over 100 of Manguin’s works in 1906. The artist has brought over a million dollars in auction, and a similar work to ours sold for $749,000 in auction 10 years ago. Today his works are held in prestigious public collections such as the Art Institute of Chicago, the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg and the Musée d’Orsay in Paris, among others.

Painted 1912