Mixed media on paper. Featuring a portrait of a woman. Signed with monogram on the lower right corner. Attributed to Rene Gruau (1909-2004, French).. 15 x 20 cm (5.9 x 7.9 inches). 15 x 20 cm (6 x 8 in). Frame: 31.5 x 37.5 cm (12.5 x 14.75 in). PROVENANCE: Southern Ontario estate

Rene Gruau was an Italian artist known for his painterly style of fashion illustration. Inspired by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec’s Art Nouveau aesthetic, Gruau echoed the expressive line and controlled blocks of color used by his predecessor. Born Renato Zavagli Ricciardelli on February 4, 1909 in Rimini, Italy, Gruau took his mother’s name when he moved to Paris as a young man. He began his career in print editorials, making his mark in the industry by designing the iconic Miss Dior fashion campaign in 1947. A graphic artist for haute couture fashion houses, as well as advertisements, Gruau garnered further acclaim for his poster design of Federico Fellini’s cinema classic La Dolce Vita (1959). He died on March 31, 2004 in Rome at the age of 95, and his hometown Rimini retains a collection of his work in its city museum.

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American, 19th century : This work was executed by an unknown hand, and can only be identified by origin (i.e., region, period).