Théodore Jacques Ralli or Theodorus Rallis (full name: Theodoros Rallis-Scaramanga; Greek: Θεόδωρος Ράλλης; Constantinople, 16 February 1852 – 2 October 1909, Lausanne) was an ethnic Greek painter, watercolourist and draughtsman, who spent most of his working life in France and Egypt.
He painted genre works, portraits, local figures, architectural subjects, interiors with figures and animals. But he is best known for his orientalist paintings.[1]
Ralli then travelled widely in North Africa and the Middle East, settling for a while in Cairo, Egypt. Here he found his inspiration for the romantic mysticism and suggestive sensuality of his many orientalistic paintings. His other genre paintings were often nostalgic recollections of the life and customs of his Greek homeland, which he portrayed with a delicate and moving reverence. His paintings were elaborated with great attention to detail, with great attention to costumes and facial expressions. The varying light sources in his paintings such as rays of light, candles, or the glowing embers in the fireplace are rendered in soft colours.
Rallis first exhibition was at the Salon in 1875. From 1879 he regularly exhibited at the Royal Academy in London. He was a member of the Société des Artistes Français, where he received an honourable mention in 1885, and a silver medal in 1889 for his whole work He exhibited his paintings in the Salon de Rouen (1897, 1903, 1906 and 1909) and also in Athens during the Olympic Games of 1896. He also served as a member of the competition jury in 1900 at the Exposition Universelle. In 1901 he became a chevalier of the Légion d’Honneur.[1]
After his death he was slowly almost forgotten. It is telling that his name is not even included in the Grove Dictionary of Art. Most of his paintings are still in private collections and only a few museums have ever purchased his works. A few of his paintings were auctioned in the 20th century, but only obtained modest prices. However in the 21st century, his paintings have been rediscovered and are being auctioned at prices that are a tenfold of some years before, fetching prices from 30,000 to 100,000 euros. On 14 November 2007 a study for the painting Refectory in a Greek Monastery (Mount Athos) (1885) was auctioned at 200,000 euros at Sotheby's in London, and in January 2008, the painting itself was sold at the absolute record price of 670,000 euros to a Greek collector at an auction in Ghent, Belgium.[2] This was followed by the sale of his oil on canvas, titled Praying Before the Communion at Megara (1890), by Bonhams in London on 25 May 2008, achieving a staggering hammer price of £600,000.[3]
^ abRallis Theodoros (1852 Constantinople - 1909 Lausanne) @ National Gallery of Greece
^Het geheim van schilder Théodore Ralli; story in the Belgian newspaper De Morgen, 24 January 2008 (in Dutch).
^NB: See Bonhams own catalogue, re. 'The Greek Sale' of 20/5/08, Lot 36, p42-45, four pages of illustration.
Referencesedit
Benezit, E., Dictionnaire des Peintres, Sculpteurs, Dessinateurs et Graveurs - Librairie Gründ, Paris, 1976; ISBN2-7000-0156-7 (in French)
External linksedit
Media related to Theodoros Rallis at Wikimedia Commons
January 01, 1970
théodore, ralli, théodore, jacques, ralli, theodorus, rallis, full, name, theodoros, rallis, scaramanga, greek, Θεόδωρος, Ράλλης, constantinople, february, 1852, october, 1909, lausanne, ethnic, greek, painter, watercolourist, draughtsman, spent, most, working. Theodore Jacques Ralli or Theodorus Rallis full name Theodoros Rallis Scaramanga Greek 8eodwros Rallhs Constantinople 16 February 1852 2 October 1909 Lausanne was an ethnic Greek painter watercolourist and draughtsman who spent most of his working life in France and Egypt Theodore RalliTheodore Ralli in his Paris studioBornTheodoros Rallis Scaramanga 1852 02 16 February 16 1852IstanbulDiedOctober 2 1909 1909 10 02 aged 57 LausanneNationalityGreekEducationJean Leon GeromeKnown forPainter and draughtsmanMovementOrientalist He painted genre works portraits local figures architectural subjects interiors with figures and animals But he is best known for his orientalist paintings 1 Contents 1 Biography 2 Museums 3 Selected works 4 See also 5 Notes 6 References 7 External linksBiography edit nbsp Greek Beauty He was sent to Paris under the patronage of King Otto of Greece and studied under Jean Leon Gerome French painter and professor at the Ecole des Beaux Arts and under Jean Jules Antoine Lecomte du Nouy both known for their orientalist paintings Ralli then travelled widely in North Africa and the Middle East settling for a while in Cairo Egypt Here he found his inspiration for the romantic mysticism and suggestive sensuality of his many orientalistic paintings His other genre paintings were often nostalgic recollections of the life and customs of his Greek homeland which he portrayed with a delicate and moving reverence His paintings were elaborated with great attention to detail with great attention to costumes and facial expressions The varying light sources in his paintings such as rays of light candles or the glowing embers in the fireplace are rendered in soft colours Rallis first exhibition was at the Salon in 1875 From 1879 he regularly exhibited at the Royal Academy in London He was a member of the Societe des Artistes Francais where he received an honourable mention in 1885 and a silver medal in 1889 for his whole work He exhibited his paintings in the Salon de Rouen 1897 1903 1906 and 1909 and also in Athens during the Olympic Games of 1896 He also served as a member of the competition jury in 1900 at the Exposition Universelle In 1901 he became a chevalier of the Legion d Honneur 1 After his death he was slowly almost forgotten It is telling that his name is not even included in the Grove Dictionary of Art Most of his paintings are still in private collections and only a few museums have ever purchased his works A few of his paintings were auctioned in the 20th century but only obtained modest prices However in the 21st century his paintings have been rediscovered and are being auctioned at prices that are a tenfold of some years before fetching prices from 30 000 to 100 000 euros On 14 November 2007 a study for the painting Refectory in a Greek Monastery Mount Athos 1885 was auctioned at 200 000 euros at Sotheby s in London and in January 2008 the painting itself was sold at the absolute record price of 670 000 euros to a Greek collector at an auction in Ghent Belgium 2 This was followed by the sale of his oil on canvas titled Praying Before the Communion at Megara 1890 by Bonhams in London on 25 May 2008 achieving a staggering hammer price of 600 000 3 Museums editGreek National Gallery Athens two paintings Louvre Paris one painting Sydney one painting Selected works editPraying in a Greek church Mount Parnassus 1876 Boa Charmer in the Harem 1882 oil on canvas Snake Charmer in the Harem 1882 oil on canvas Wake of the Pasha of Tangier 1884 oil on canvas Refectory in a monastery Mount Athos 1885 oil on canvas Reclining Odalisk 1885 oil on canvas Sleeping Concubine 1885 oil on canvas La Demoiselle 1887 oil on canvas Evening Prayers 1890 oil on canvas Praying before the Communion Megara 1890 oil on canvas presented at the Salon of 1890 In the mosque 1891 Seamstress 1895 oil on canvas Drama in the Harem 1908 oil on canvas presented at the Salon of 1908 Jerusalem Before Solomon s Wall in Jerusalem Woman in Arab Interior Girls in Orthodox Church Benediction oil on canvas Peasant Woman resting watercolour and pencil Girl in Church Candle in Hand oil on canvas Two camels in the Desert watercolour heightened with gouache Ah Jealous Woman among Jealous Women oil on canvas The Sultan s Favourite The Offering The Bath oil on canvas Young Beauty oil on canvas A Greek Beauty watercolour on paper Portrait of a Greek Girl Helen of Megara oil on panel Two Wise Old Men in Turbans watercolour Portrait of a Man in Green oil on canvas on card Sleeping in Church oil on canvas Entrance to Mary s Tomb in Jerusalem watercolour Religious Instruction in an Algerian Mosque oil on canvas Girl Spinning Wool oil on panel Portrait of the ArtistSee also editList of Orientalist artists OrientalismNotes edit a b Rallis Theodoros 1852 Constantinople 1909 Lausanne National Gallery of Greece Het geheim van schilder Theodore Ralli story in the Belgian newspaper De Morgen 24 January 2008 in Dutch NB See Bonhams own catalogue re The Greek Sale of 20 5 08 Lot 36 p42 45 four pages of illustration References editBenezit E Dictionnaire des Peintres Sculpteurs Dessinateurs et Graveurs Librairie Grund Paris 1976 ISBN 2 7000 0156 7 in French External links edit nbsp Media related to Theodoros Rallis at Wikimedia Commons Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Theodore Ralli amp oldid 1180671487, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
