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MAURICE BIAIS (1860-1934)
4
●
[CHAMPS DE COURSE.] Circa 1897.
21x42 inches, 53
1
/
4
x106
3
/
4
cm. Ed. Sagot, Paris.
Condition A: minor creases in margins. Framed. Unexamined out of frame.
The son of a rich public notary, Maurice Biais was a socialite and a dandy on the Parisian scene, as well
as a talented artist. In 1911, he married the performer Jane Avril, with whom he had a doomed, short-
lived union. He designed numerous illustrations, graphics and posters including one for
La Maison
Moderne,
for whom he also designed decorative objects. Here, much in the style of Sem (Georges
Goursat), he captures a scene between races at a track. This was a work that was exhibited in New York
City in 1901 at “the little gallery of Williams on Fifth Avenue, near Thirty-seventh street,” as part of
an exhibition of the artist’s work.
The New York Times
art critic reviewing the show on October 19,
1901, describes a “long frieze-like picture called ‘Champs de Course’ . . . it is a procession of thin race
horses mounted by jockeys; the faces of the latter are caricatures. Perhaps the underlying idea is a
design for wall paper to be placed in the houses and fine stables of lovers of the turf ” (New York
Times, October 19, 1901).
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