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ALPHONSE MUCHA (1860-1939)
94
●
BÉNÉDICTINE. 1898.
80
1
/
4
x29
3
/
4
inches, 203
3
/
4
x75
1
/
2
cm. F. Champenois,
Paris.
Condition B+: repaired tears and losses in margins,
some affecting image; creases along unobtrusive
vertical and horizontal folds. Two-sheets. Framed.
Unexamined out of frame.
“Benedictine
is a liqueur flavoured with a
variety of aromatic herbs, and Mucha gives a
hint of it by showing two girls pressing flowers
between the pages of a book. At the bottom is
a view of the Fécamp Abbey [in Normandy] .
. . This poster serves as an example of colour
being used to create depth. In monochrome,
the design would look too crowded; but by
giving the girls’ dresses an identical blue that
makes a distinct contrast with the maroon and
beige background, Mucha placed them in an
entirely different plane and made the design
three dimensional” (Lendl p. 98). The liqueur is
still sold today and the bottles have not changed
their appearance. Mucha Grand Palais A. 35,
Rennert / Weill 58, Mucha / Henderson 59,
Mucha / Bridges A8, Triumph des Jugendstils
39, Brno 12, DFP-II 648, Wine Spectator 70,
Lendl p. 98.
[7,000/10,000]