Gustav-Adolf Mossa (1883-1971)

[Daisy]

The following text is an excerpt from a biographical sketch of Mossa published at www.phespirit.info/pictures/patchwork/p015_info.htm.

Gustav-Adolf Mossa was born in Nice on 28th January 1883. His father Alexis Mossa (1844-1926) was himself a painter from Nice who produced posters for the Carnival of Nice at the end of the 19th century and would strongly influence the career of his son. Up to 1900, Gustav-Adolf studied at l'École des Arts Décoratifs de Nice where he familiarised himself with Art Nouveau. At the same time, his father introduced him to landscape art, the use of watercolours, and the surroundings of Nice, thus enabling him to develop a pictorial technique. As early as 1900, however, after the visit of the universal exposition, he was taken by the Symbolist movement and Art Nouveau.

In 1901, Mossa created his first major Symbolist canvas: Salomé or the Beginning of Christianity. Also at this time he undertook a series of trips to Italy in company of his father, where he visited Genoa, Pisa, Siena and especially Florence. It is also at this time that, in the tradition of his father, he produced his first works for the carnival in Nice. At the end of 1902, Gustav-Adolf Mossa returned to Nice where he submitted his works to the Carnival competition. In 1903, he returned to Italy with his father, visiting Mantua, Padua and Venice. 1904 to 1911 was a particularly productive period; his output included Symbolist paintings, carnival scenes, watercolour landscapes, plus poems and plays. In 1908, he married Charlotte-Andrée Naudin. In 1911, he discovered Flemish primitive art and abandoned symbolism.

In 1914, during the First World War, Mossa was mobilised and gravely injured. Drawing from this experience of war, he went on to produce a canvas that he completed in 1916: The Sad Hours of the War. He divorced in 1918 and the following year his mother died. His work on landscapes, illustrations and manuscripts continued, but with a lot less intensity. He remarried in 1925; Lucrèce Roux remained his wife until her death in 1955. After the death of his father in 1926, Gustav-Adolf Mossa took his place as curator of the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Nice. After the death of his second wife, he was married for a third time in 1926, to Marie-Marcelle Butteli.

Only after Gustav-Adolf Mossa died, in Nice on 25th May 1971, was his Symbolist work rediscovered. It had been kept concealed by Mossa from a public that had known him essentially by his work as a printmaker for the Carnival of Nice.

Self-Portrait

Pierrot s'en va

Salomé

Price of Stupidity

The Woman with the Skeletons (Lady Macbeth)

The Dead Women

[Severini]

humm this is very intriguing and bizarre.Thanks for the introduction.

[G. S. Carnivals]

Thank you, Nicole. It appears that the sharpest knife in the drawer is out and about town... , , and !

[trieffiewiles]

Whoa, very nice.

[Odalisque]

Thank you Nicole. There are certainly some ladies, there, whom I'd approach with caution. There's something about the Salome picture, in particular, that puts me in mind of some of Arthur Rackham's work. She seems to hint of both innocence and its reverse.

[Mr. Schneider]

Have just discovered Mossa today, and I could not be more thrilled; at the moment!

[Zaharoff]

I was trying to track down an affordable book of Mossa's art.
Most were completely beyond my budget.
I found this site, however, which featured more Mossa art,
as well as many other artists who should appeal to TLO.

MONSTER BRAINS

	TLO THOMAS LIGOTTI ONLINE

[bendk]

Quote Originally Posted by Zaharoff

I was trying to track down an affordable book of Mossa's art. Most were completely beyond my budget. I found this site, however, which featured more Mossa art, as well as many other artists who should appeal to TLO. MONSTER BRAINS

That is Aeron Alfrey's site. He has done work for Ligotti. Most notably for his cover art on the Subterranean Press editions of his three main collections.

This gives me the opportunity to thank Aeron for his wonderful print that he did for Vastarien funders. For some reason, I am unable to post images at TLO or I would have posted earlier. The image has a Punch and Judy theme as if viewed by the residents of Mirocaw. It has been looking out from my bookshelf ever since I received it.

	TLO THOMAS LIGOTTI ONLINE

[xylokopos]

Quote Originally Posted by bendk

Quote Originally Posted by Zaharoff I was trying to track down an affordable book of Mossa's art. Most were completely beyond my budget. I found this site, however, which featured more Mossa art, as well as many other artists who should appeal to TLO. MONSTER BRAINS That is Aeron Alfrey's site. He has done work for Ligotti. Most notably for his cover art on the Subterranean Press editions of his three main collections. This gives me the opportunity to thank Aeron for his wonderful print that he did for Vastarien funders. For some reason, I am unable to post images at TLO or I would have posted earlier. The image has a Punch and Judy theme as if viewed by the residents of Mirocaw. It has been looking out from my bookshelf ever since I received it.

I agree. It is a wonderful piece of art:

	TLO THOMAS LIGOTTI ONLINE