Maria Lani (Maria Jeleniewicz; 24 June 1895 – 1954) was an aspiring film actress and artists' model. In the late 1920s she was portrayed in paintings and sculpture by over fifty artists, including Bonnard, Chagall, Cocteau, Derain, Matisse, Rouault,[1] and Suzanne Valadon.
Maria Lani was born in Kolno, Poland, and grew up in Częstochowa also in Poland.[1] She went to Paris in the spring of 1928 and proclaimed herself to be a silent film star who had worked in Berlin. Together with her husband, Maximilian Abramowicz, and her brother, Alexander, the trio claimed to be working on a film which required multiple portraits as part of the plot. She befriended Jean Cocteau who enthusiastically endorsed the project and with his encouragement, fifty-nine artists made portraits of her.[1]
A limited edition book about Lani and the portraits was published in 1929 by Éditions des Quatre Chemins, Paris with essays by Cocteau, Mac Ramo, and Waldemar George. It included fifty-one plates of reproductions.
The film never materialized, but the portraits were exhibited as a group in Europe and the United States, and Lani and Abramowicz kept them in their possession.[1] In 1941 they moved to New York City, where she worked at the Stage Door Canteen, a recreational center for servicemen. They returned to Paris after the war, where she died in 1954 and was buried in a pauper's grave.[1]
Notesedit
In the late 1930s, Thomas Mann coauthored a screen play that was inspired by Lani. "Jean Renoir agreed to direct, with Garbo to star."[1]
The 3 December 1945 issue of Life Magazine reproduced fifteen of the portraits.[2]
Lani was an inspiration for fashion designer John Galliano's spring/summer collection in 2011 and he referenced the portraits in the outfits of the models.[3]
^These Are the Faces of Parisian Model Maria Lani. 3 December 1945. Retrieved 14 June 2014. {{cite book}}: |magazine= ignored (help)
^ "John Galliano". Vogue Magazine UK. 2 October 2010. Retrieved 14 June 2014.
Lackman, Jon (June–July 2014). "Maria Lani's Mystery". Art in America. New York: Brant Publications: 49–52.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Maria Lani.
"Georges Rouault portrait of Maria Lani". Art Institute of Chicago. Retrieved 14 June 2014.
"Charles-Albert Despiau sculpture of Maria Lani". Metropolitan Museum of Art. Retrieved 14 June 2014.
"Maria Lani". Kelsangdongsar blog. 16 December 2010. Retrieved 14 June 2014.
April 15, 2024
maria, lani, maria, jeleniewicz, june, 1895, 1954, aspiring, film, actress, artists, model, late, 1920s, portrayed, paintings, sculpture, over, fifty, artists, including, bonnard, chagall, cocteau, derain, matisse, rouault, suzanne, valadon, jules, pascin, cha. Maria Lani Maria Jeleniewicz 24 June 1895 1954 was an aspiring film actress and artists model In the late 1920s she was portrayed in paintings and sculpture by over fifty artists including Bonnard Chagall Cocteau Derain Matisse Rouault 1 and Suzanne Valadon Maria Lani by Jules Pascin Charcoal on paper The Phillips Collection Washington D C Contents 1 Biography 2 Notes 3 References 4 External linksBiography editMaria Lani was born in Kolno Poland and grew up in Czestochowa also in Poland 1 She went to Paris in the spring of 1928 and proclaimed herself to be a silent film star who had worked in Berlin Together with her husband Maximilian Abramowicz and her brother Alexander the trio claimed to be working on a film which required multiple portraits as part of the plot She befriended Jean Cocteau who enthusiastically endorsed the project and with his encouragement fifty nine artists made portraits of her 1 A limited edition book about Lani and the portraits was published in 1929 by Editions des Quatre Chemins Paris with essays by Cocteau Mac Ramo and Waldemar George It included fifty one plates of reproductions The film never materialized but the portraits were exhibited as a group in Europe and the United States and Lani and Abramowicz kept them in their possession 1 In 1941 they moved to New York City where she worked at the Stage Door Canteen a recreational center for servicemen They returned to Paris after the war where she died in 1954 and was buried in a pauper s grave 1 Notes editIn the late 1930s Thomas Mann coauthored a screen play that was inspired by Lani Jean Renoir agreed to direct with Garbo to star 1 The 3 December 1945 issue of Life Magazine reproduced fifteen of the portraits 2 Lani was an inspiration for fashion designer John Galliano s spring summer collection in 2011 and he referenced the portraits in the outfits of the models 3 References edit a b c d e f Lackman 2014 These Are the Faces of Parisian Model Maria Lani 3 December 1945 Retrieved 14 June 2014 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a magazine ignored help John Galliano Vogue Magazine UK 2 October 2010 Retrieved 14 June 2014 Lackman Jon June July 2014 Maria Lani s Mystery Art in America New York Brant Publications 49 52 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Maria Lani Georges Rouault portrait of Maria Lani Art Institute of Chicago Retrieved 14 June 2014 Charles Albert Despiau sculpture of Maria Lani Metropolitan Museum of Art Retrieved 14 June 2014 Maria Lani Kelsangdongsar blog 16 December 2010 Retrieved 14 June 2014 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Maria Lani amp oldid 1170778133, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
