Jules OURY, known as MARCEL-LENOIR (Montauban, 1872 - Montricoux, 1931) Cleopatra Watercolour gouache, pen and Indian ink, gold highlights Signed 'MARCEL LENOIR' lower left Cleopatra, gouache and watercolou, pen and Indian ink, gold highlights, signed, by Marcel-Lenoir 20.87 x 14.17 in. 53.0 x 36.0 cm Provenance: Anonymous sale; Paris, Hôtel Drouot, s. 10, Me Beaussant-Lefèvre, Paris, 18 June 2010, no. 139 (as Femme aux serpents) ; Acquired at this sale by Gérard Lévy; Gérard Lévy Collection; Then by descent Bibliography: Album de la Décoration (Deuxième Volume), Paris, Librairie des Art décoratifs, Calavas, no date [circa 1900]. In-folio on ff. in hardback folder, plate no. 38: "Cleopatra". Born in Montauban into a family of goldsmiths, Jules Oury moved to Paris in 1889, where he attended the École des Arts Décoratifs before taking classes with fresco artist Paul Baudoüin at the École des Beaux-Arts. Deciding to become a painter, he took the pseudonym "Marcel-Lenoir", partly to avoid confusion with his brother Louis Oury, a sculptor and poster artist. Attracted by the art of Puvis de Chavannes and quickly enamoured of Symbolism, he became friends with the poet Paul Fort and befriended Joséphin Péladan, who invited him to take part in the sixth and last Salon de la Rose+Croix at the Georges Petit gallery in 1897. Marcel-Lenoir presented a number of illuminated works of mystical inspiration, combining sumptuous costumes and decor with rigorously synthesised figures. It was at this time that the artist was drawn out of his bohemian life by the publisher Arnould, who, discovering his pure and synthetic work, offered to print and distribute his works. Published around 1900 by the Arts Décoratifs bookshop, our large gouache watercolour belongs to the most symbolist part of Marcel-Lenoir's work. Meticulously painted with coloured inks and delicately enhanced with gold, it preserves the memory of the painter's early ambitions as a goldsmith. From 1896 to 1904, the artist's iconography was essentially esoteric, veiled in hidden symbols, but our subject seems more easily identifiable. Depicting the cloisonné profile of Cleopatra with her hair invaded by snakes, like an ancient Gorgon, it is in keeping with erudite symbolism and the spirit of Art Nouveau posters. Jules OURY, known as MARCEL-LENOIR (Montauban, 1872 - Montricoux, 1931) 53.0 x 36.0 cm Born in Montauban into a family of goldsmiths, Jules Oury went to Paris in 1889, where he attended the École des Arts Décoratifs before taking classes with the fresco artist Paul Baudoüin at the École des Beaux-arts. Deciding to become a painter, he took the pseudonym "Marcel-Lenoir", partly to avoid confusion with his brother Louis Oury, a sculptor and poster artist. Attracted by the art of Puvis de Chavannes and quickly enamoured of Symbolism, he became friends with the poet Paul Fort and befriended Joséphin Péladan, who invited him to take part in the sixth and last Salon de la Rose+Croix at the Georges Petit gallery in 1897. Marcel-Lenoir presented a number of illuminated works of mystical inspiration, combining sumptuous costumes and decor with rigorously synthesised figures. It was at this time that the artist was drawn out of his bohemian life by the publisher Arnould, who, discovering his pure and synthetic work, offered to print and distribute his works. Published around 1900 by the Arts Décoratifs bookshop, our large gouache watercolour belongs to the most symbolist part of Marcel-Lenoir's work. Meticulously painted with coloured inks and delicately enhanced with gold, it preserves the memory of the painter's early ambitions as a goldsmith. From 1896 to 1904, the artist's iconography was essentially esoteric, veiled in hidden symbols, but our subject seems more easily identifiable. Depicting the cloisonné profile of Cleopatra with her hair invaded by snakes, like an ancient Gorgon, it is in keeping with erudite symbolism and the spirit of Art Nouveau posters.