Peacock Power

Umberto Bottazzi, stained glass window for Casina delle Civette, Rome, 1912

Of the 711 posts published on Animalarium up to now, this one has been the most visited by far.

So, back by popular demand, we present a new dazzling selection of Art Nouveau's favourite bird

interpreted by some of the movement's most significant artists. Enjoy!

James MacNeil Whistler, shutters of The Peacock Room, 1876-7

Aubrey Beardsley, from La Morte d'Arthur, 1893

two works by Camille Martin, 1894-96

Walter Crane, Fig and Peacock wallpaper, 1895

 M. P. Verneuil, 1897

René-Jules Lalique, sketch (thanks to A polar's Bear Tale) and pendant, 1901

Jan Preisler, 1902, thanks to Peacock's Garden

Jacques Gruber, detail of Véranda de la Salle, 1904 

Joseph Janin, stained glass for Villa Bergeret, Nancy, 1905

Jerzy Hulewicz, cover of Polish magazine, 1917, thanks to 50 Watts 

L'Animal dans la Décoration

The color of autumn leaves reminds me of this beautiful folio created by M. P. Verneuil at the height

 of the Art Nouveau's ornamental frenzy. Verneuil was one of the most talented pupils in Eugène Grasset's

 Parisian atelier, and executed many designs under his direction for the 1896 portfolio

La Plante et ses Applications Ornementales. One year later he produced his own series 

of 60 lithographic plates containing hundreds of decorative depictions of animals 

and dedicated it to Grasset, whose realistic, detailed and romantic style clearly inspired him. 

 

Thanks to the New York Public Library for the gorgeous scans.