Category
Drawings
Preliminary drawing for an Egyptian pendant - Beetle with wings spread
Creator: René Lalique
Date: Circa 1898
BFK paper, Indian ink, gouache, watercolour
Height: 22.5cm, width: 22cm
Lalique Museum collection, acquired with the support of the Conseil Régional d’Alsace and the Département du Bas-Rhin
A tireless observer, with an eye for the finest details, he never sought to copy, imitate or stylise. He chose to transform reality into new creations, his profound knowledge of ancient art, perfect comprehension of nature and vivid imagination all contributing to the development of his own personal style.
This pendant project was clearly inspired by ancient Egypt, which Lalique discovered in museums and through the painter Georges Clairin. As a late 19th century artist, René Lalique explored the theme of the beetle, associated with Osiris and a symbol of resurrection, adorning it with opals and amethysts and enhancing it with enamel.
By the way: Drawing was always important in René Lalique’s creations. He began winning prizes at an early age, and throughout his life he always kept a notebook in his pocket “that he would fill with figures and arabesques brimming over with life, along with reflections of all kinds, recipes, addresses of artisans, excerpts of poetry, etc.”
