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For collectors searching fine art oil painting, Large Orchestra (Grand orchestre) is a dependable choice. Painted in layered oils on canvas after Raoul Dufy, this fauvist work reads equally well as classic canvas wall art and as a thoughtful housewarming gift.
1942-1948
Oil on canvas
Grand orchestre is one of a series of orchestral scenes that Raoul Dufy commenced at the beginning of the 1940s. Born into a musical family – Dufy’s father was a part-time organist and church choir conductor, and two of his brothers were musicians – the artist was immersed in the world of music from an early age, and had first depicted an orchestra in 1902. It was not until the 1940s, during the Second World War, that he returned to the subject matter of music, embarking on a theme that would reinvigorate his art and fascinate him throughout the decade. Dufy painted and sketched numerous depictions of instrumental concertos, orchestras, choirs and singers, and later created pictorial homages to his favourite composers, including Mozart, Bach and Chopin. Grand orchestre is an expression of the joy that Dufy found in music at this time.
Depicting the orchestra from above, Dufy has painted an array of musicians in the middle of their performance. Painted with rich tones of red and yellow, Grand orchestre demonstrates the artist’s distinctive use of colour: over broad swathes of colour, Dufy has drawn the outlines of figures and their instruments, creating the compositional structure of the scene. Like notes on a musical score, the rows of performers, including violinists, flutists and cellists, are depicted in a frenetic flurry of lines, giving a sense of animated movement and dynamism to the painting. The repeated shapes and lines create a melodious rhythm that evokes the cadences and harmonies of music. Bringing music and painting together, Grand orchestre conveys a sense of exuberance. Pablo Casals, a famous cellist and friend of the artist said upon seeing one of Dufy’s orchestra scenes such as Grand orchestre: ‘I cannot tell what piece your orchestra is playing, but I know which key it is written in’ (P. Casals quoted in, D. Perez-Tibi, Dufy, London, 1989, p. 292).
The fine art subject is rebuilt stroke by stroke in oil, giving the finished canvas the depth expected of fauvist oil painting wall decor.
Trained artists work in stages — underpainting, mid-tones, highlights, and detail — using traditional oils on canvas. Because nothing is printed, every hand painted oil painting has its own subtle texture and depth.
For hallway wall art that does not feel generic, a painted fine art canvas is hard to beat. It is a popular fine art oil painting pick for new homeowners and a durable alternative to seasonal poster art.
| Size | Price |
|---|---|
| 20 X 24 in | $68.48 |
| 24 X 36 in | $106.48 |
| 30 X 40 in | $146.98 |
| 36 X 48 in | $195.48 |
| 48 X 72 in | $379.98 |
The sizes shown are the reproduction canvas sizes we paint to order. The dimensions given in a work's description refer to the original artwork and will differ from the sizes offered here. Not sure? Read the size guide or e-mail us.
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Every canvas is painted by hand in oils on artist-grade stretched canvas, with an extra blank border left for framing. How to care for your painting.
Measurements are on the size guide, or e-mail [email protected] and we reply within one business day.
