Raphy Dallèves

Private collection, Switzerland

No retouching visible under UV light. Excellent condition.
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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."

Originally from Sion, the artist Raphy Dallèves spent most of his life in his native canton Valais. He was well acquainted with the history, culture and tradition of his native town and was strongly influenced by its religious environment. These elements infused Dallèves work throughout his entire career. In his monumental Nativité, a group of five kneeling children are shown on the right hand side of the painting, all dressed in traditional costumes. Dallèves substitution of the Three Kings by a group of children, represents for his time an unexpected and rather modern depiction of the nativity scene subject. With its intimate atmosphere and impressive native dress of the figures, this painting is considered as masterpiece in Dallèves oeuvre.

Der aus Sitten stammende Raphy Dallèves verbrachte mit wenigen kurzen Unterbrüchen sein Leben im Wallis. Dallèves war mit der Kultur, Geschichte und den Traditionen seines Heimatkantons seit seiner Jugend eng verbunden. Sein künstlerisches Schaffen war ebenfalls durch das religiöse Milieu seiner Umgebung geprägt. Unser monumentales Bild Nativité zeigt in der rechten Bildhälfte eine Gruppe von fünf knienden Kindern, welche in traditionelle Trachten gekleidet sind. Die Bildkomposition stellt für die damalige Zeit eine unerwartete und durchaus moderne Wiedergabe der Geburt Christi dar, indem die drei Weisen aus dem Morgenland durch eine Kindergruppe ersetzt sind. Beim vorliegenden Gemälde handelt es sich um ein Hauptwerk des Malers, welches durch die intime Atmosphäre und durch die eindrückliche Natürlichkeit der Dargestellten überzeugt.