Odilon Redon

Private Collection, Europe
Thence by descent to the present owner

Alec Wildenstein, Odilon Redon, Catalogue raisonné de l'oeuvre peint et dessiné: Mythes et légendes, Paris, 1994, vol. II, no. 973, illustrated p. 115

The panel is sound and there appear to be no signs of retouching visible under UV light. There is a 5cm. surface crack vertical to the top left edge and an associated surface crack to its right. There are some tiny holes and pits to the surface of the panel, intrinsic to the nature of the support. Apart from a slight varnish and some very minor surface dirt, this work is in very good condition. Colours: The colours are overall much richer and more vibrant in the original.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Odilon Redon's vast oeuvre is marked by an epic fascination with mythology and phantasmagoric imagery. His unique Symbolist vision, inspired by modern and classical poetry, brought about some of the most astonishing colouristic achievements of both the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Among his most spectacular compositions, however, are those based on Greek myth and, of these, few are more iconic than those depicting the fables of Pegasus.

The narrative of the present work is open to two different interpretations. It could be taken to depict the beautiful muse Calliope, daughter of Zeus and Mnemosyne and guardian of heroic poetry, riding Pegasus – friend of the poets. According to the myth, the hooves of Pegasus formed the Hippocrene fountain on Mount Helicon – the water of which was said to bring forth poetic inspiration when imbibed. However, Pegasus could also have been depicted by Redon carrying Aurora, the goddess of dawn, who announces the arrival of the sun each morning across the skies.

Whichever the interpretation, Redon has used colour to illustrate the boundless creative potential of the poetic imagination. The nebulous clouds of pastel hues which dominate the upper reaches of the composition affect an intense atmosphere, whilst the vivid flora in the lower right suggest a metaphorical representation of poetry and dream. Indeed, as the artist himself commented, 'if the art of an artist is the song of his life, a solemn or sad melody, I must have hit a happy note in colour ... '(Odilon Redon, 'De Soi-Même: Quelques notes de Odilon Redon', in André Mellerio, Odilon Redon, Paris, 1923, pp. 49-79, p. 78)