paintings
8 Jun, 2022
Ni Pollok Lying Under a Parasol in The Afternoon, by: Le Mayeur de Merpres (1880 – 1958)
Artist : Le Mayeur de Merpres (1880 – 1958) =====
Medium : Oil on canvas =====
Signature : “J. Le Mayeur” at lower right =====
Height : +/- 97 cm =====
Width : +/- 124.5 cm =====
Period/Date : 1951, acquired in 1951 =====
Country : Bali - Indonesia =====
Condition : Good =====
Re-Examined Date : 29th November 2018 =====
Authenticity # : P-1039/29/07/2001 =====
1. RESEARCH & ESSAY ==============
As a Belgian-born painter and traveler, Adrien-Jean Le Mayeur de Merprès (1880 - 1958) traveled to the corners of the world, including France, Italy, Morocco, Tunisia, Aljazair, India, Thailand, Cambodia, and even Tahiti. He then sailed to Bali Island when he was 52, and was enthralled by its rich culture, cordiality of people, religious pace, and the appealing local maiden’s beauty. Le Mayeur was fascinated by the stroke of moonlight in the night, the rising sun at dawn, and the colors of rich cultural life surrounding him that subdued his notion to the quiet, yet exotic Island. More than that, Le Mayeur met a 15-year-old beautiful Legong dancer, Ni Wayan Pollok Tjoeglik (1917-1985) who frequently was called as his beloved name “Ni Pollok”. After marrying her in 1935, Le Mayeur adjured her to become his muse, painting model, and wife respectively. ===============
Entitled to “Ni Pollok Lying Under a Parasol in the Afternoon”, the present work was executed with distinctively vigorous brushstrokes vibrantly rendering thirteen Balinese women wondrously posing in sensuality of bare-breasted tradition with dramatic compositions. Ni Pollok is highlighted as the main subject reclining on floor mat covered with scarf under an opened umbrella in front of terrace surrounded by eight large statues of Hindu gods and several figures, including the beach and seascape in the background. The inclusion of luxuriant arch of boughs of frangipani trees and foliage of the tropics with fallen flowers around the figures imbued the relaxed lifestyle in the stunning landscape of tropical paradise in the late afternoon. ===============
The subject is exquisitely painted and layered in dense and strong brushstrokes in predominantly vibrant red, orange, green, beige, black and white pigments capturing two-dimensional effects. Exhibiting the extravagant green foliage and delicately red dotted flowers, the painter attested the lush garden in his villa. The orange and yellowish hue colors on the present subject were created in casting a warm glow upon the figures’ naked skins to allow that the subject comes alive what the artist wished to attain. With the mottled sunlight shining through gaps in the figures and ground on the present painting, we can see that the current painting renders the illusion of depth, and supremely setting that disposes for an impressionist palette using colors, textures and strokes in playing light and shadow. Measuring 124.5 x 97 cm, the present work was painted during the immediate post-war years, in early 1952. Compared to his pre-war paintings, the present painting features the specific characteristics. His post-ware works, like the present painting, are depicted with more than three figures, including more figures in the background of the main subject. The post-ware ones are usually executed in vibrant and vivid pigments, a balanced composition, detailed anatomy, and strong lighting details that make the painting subject come alive, and the artist avoided to paint and draw in a loose manner. However, in his oeuvre, Le Mayeur constantly rendered impressions of Ni Pollok in various attitudes throughout his career. ===============
During his career, the repetition of the same subjects, decorative elements and poses of figures on the present painting return again in his works many times. For example, the similar subject with decorative elements and composition but it different flowers arrangement to the present painting is a larger painting (150.5 x 200.5 cm) from Christie’s Hong Kong, entitled to “Terrace affording a View of the Sea with Pollok under an Umbrella”. The painting was sold in 28th May 2006, lot. 61 for HK$13,560,000 or equivalent to US$ 1,675,000 USD (see fig. 1). Another in slightly different composition is a smaller painting (76 x 90 cm) entitled to “Balinese Women in the Garden”, sold at Christie’s Singapore, 1st October 2000, lot. 34 (see fig. 2). Again, a smaller painting (55 x 65 cm) entitled to “Balinese Ladies in a Garden” painted in slightly different composition, was sold at Christie’s Hong Kong, 26th November 2006, lot. 88 for HKD 2,136,000, initially estimated between HKD 600,000 - HKD 700,000 (see fig. 3). ===============
In 22 – 26 November 1951 and 1952, the first President of Republic of Indonesia, Soekarno, visited Le Mayeur’s studio and met Le Mayeur and his wife, Ni Pollok. In their intimate meeting and relationship, Le Mayeur presented four paintings as the gifts to the President. Two of Le Mayeur’s works in similar composition to the present piece is in the collection entitled “Kenikmatan Hidup I” (seize: 151 cm x 200 cm) and “Kenikmatan Hidup II” (size: 150 cm x 200 cm, oil on canvas). His work entitled “Kenikmatan Hidup II” is depicted with similar Ni Pollok lying under parasol with several figures and sea view in the background to the present painting but in different position (see fig. 4), illustrated in Lukisan Dan Patung Koleksi Presiden Sukarno, edited by Lee Man Fong, Vol. 4, Tokyo, 1964. ===============
Citation:
1. Lukisan Dan Patung Koleksi Presiden Sukarno, edited by Lee Man Fong, Vol. 4, Tokyo, 1964.
Estimate: $500,000 - $750,000