N°1 - "Les Iles Baléares"
N°2 - "Le Lido"
N°3- "Les Iles Marquises"
N°4 - "Hawaï"
N°5 - "Les Bermudes"
N°6 - "La Sicile"
N°7 - "La Corse"
N°8 - "Les Antilles"
Romain de Tirtoff dit ERTE
Gouache on paper
Signed lower right in ink: Erté
Annotated on the reverse in ink: “No. 12.879 ‘The Islands of Love’, The Balearic Islands, 1 model,” and in pencil: “EVE 53”
No. 2 – “Le Lido”
Gouache on paper
Signed lower right in ink: Erté
Annotated on the reverse in ink: “‘The Islands of Love’ No. 12.886, ‘Le Lido’, 1 model,” and in pencil: “Muguette, EVE 53”
No. 3 – “The Marquesas Islands”
Gouache on paper
Signed lower right in ink: Erté
Annotated on the reverse in ink: “‘The Islands of Love’ No. 12.894, The Marquesas Islands (model),” and in pencil: “Jaky, EVE 53”
No. 4 – “Hawaii”
Gouache on paper
Signed lower right in ink: Erté
Annotated on the reverse in ink: “‘The Islands of Love’ No. 12.887, ‘Hawaii’, 1 dancer,” and in pencil: “EVE 53”
No. 5 – “Bermuda”
Gouache on paper
Signed lower right in ink: Erté
Annotated on the reverse in ink: “‘The Islands of Love’ No. 12.882, ‘Hawaii’ (Winter beaches), 1 model,” and in pencil: “Bella, EVE 53”
No. 6 – “Sicily”
Gouache on paper
Signed lower right in ink: Erté
Annotated on the reverse in ink: “‘The Islands of Love’ No. 12.881, ‘Sicily’, 1 model,” and in pencil: “Jacqueline, EVE 53”
No. 7 – “Corsica”
Gouache on paper
Signed lower right in ink: Erté
Annotated on the reverse in ink: “‘The Islands of Love’ No. 12.895, ‘Corsica’ (model),” and in pencil: “Rita, EVE 53”
No. 8 – “The Antilles”
Gouache on paper
Signed lower right in ink: Erté
Annotated on the reverse in ink: “‘The Islands of Love’ No. 12.892, ‘Hawaii’, Group of dancers,” and in pencil: “EVE 53”
Framed: 54 × 42 cm
Further images
-
(View a larger image of thumbnail 1
)
-
(View a larger image of thumbnail 2
)
-
(View a larger image of thumbnail 3
)
-
(View a larger image of thumbnail 4
)
-
(View a larger image of thumbnail 5
)
-
(View a larger image of thumbnail 6
)
-
(View a larger image of thumbnail 7
)
-
(View a larger image of thumbnail 8
)
-
(View a larger image of thumbnail 9
)
Erté – The Elegance of a Line
Born in Saint Petersburg in 1892 to an aristocratic Russian family, Romain de Tirtoff dreamed from an early age of Paris — the capital of art and fashion. His father, a high-ranking officer in the Imperial Navy, envisioned a military career for him — or at the very least, something respectable like the École des Beaux-Arts. But Romain had other plans: he wanted to draw, invent, and stylize the world in his own unique way.
When he arrived in Paris in 1912, he adopted the pseudonym “Erté,” taken from the French pronunciation of his initials, to spare his family’s reputation back home. Officially enrolled at the Académie Julian, he lasted just one week — claiming he was too shy to draw a line in public. His real training ground would be the world of fashion.
He soon caught the eye of Paul Poiret, the celebrated couturier and trailblazer of modern style. Poiret was captivated by Erté’s elegant linework, his sense of movement, and flair for theatrical design. Although their collaboration was brief, it left a lasting impression. Erté absorbed from Poiret a love of fluid silhouettes, stylized ornamentation, and a refined touch of exoticism.
In 1915, he began a legendary collaboration with Harper’s Bazaar, creating over 200 covers across the decades. With his elongated figures, opulent drapery, jewel-like palettes, and exquisite attention to detail, Erté quickly became one of the defining artists of the Art Deco era.
But his talents extended far beyond fashion. He designed costumes for the Folies Bergère, stage sets for the Paris Opéra, and even worked with Hollywood studios. Whether in ink, bronze, jewelry, or glass, his creations capture the nostalgia of the Roaring Twenties — but always through a lens of timeless elegance.
Until his death at the age of 97 in 1990, Erté never stopped drawing, never stopped dreaming — always bringing to the world that extra touch of grace and fantasy that made all the difference.
WELCOME TO GALERIE MARCILHAC NEWSLETTER
Please Join our mailing list by filling the form below
* denotes required fields
We will process the personal data you have supplied in accordance with our privacy policy (available on request). You can unsubscribe or change your preferences at any time by clicking the link in our emails.