Raoul Pene Du Bois. “Grisaille Portrait of Sailor Youth” (Mid 20th Century). Signed Gouache Painting on Antique Paper. Born 1914 Staten Island, New York, USA Died 1985 New York, New York, USA Raoul Pene Du Bois was an American set and costume designer and the creative force behind much of Broadway’s visual charm and Hollywood’s fashion-forward allure during the mid twentieth century. In the 1930’s Du Bois was responsible for costuming several annual revues of the Zigfield Follies on Broadway. In the 40’s, Du Bois was nominated for two Academy Awards in the category of Best Art Direction for his work on films. In the 50’s, he dressed the cast of the iconic, runaway Broadway hit, Gypsy—A Steven Sondheim musical first starring Ethel Merman (Anything Goes, Annie Get Your Gun, Hello, Dolly!). In the 60’s, Du Bois was hired as the head costume designer for the film version of Gypsy, starring Rosalind Russel (His Girl Friday, Auntie Mame, Wonderful Town). And finally in the last decade of his life, he styled Ruby Keeler (42nd Street) and the rest of the ensemble cast in the Broadway smash hit, No, No, Nanette. In all, Raoul Pene Du Bois was nominated for six Tony’s, two of which he won—one for Best Costume Design for No, No, Nanette and one for Best Scenic Design in Wonderful Town. This piece by Du Bois, Grisaille Portrait of Sailor Youth, is particularly interesting because it combines some very classic art historical techniques with Du Bois background in theatre and his cinematic sensibility. The scale is monumental, very nearly life-size, which cements its dramatic presence. However the practice of grisaille (French for “grayed” and meaning in English “painted in all gray”) is actually a millennia-old method of painting first popularized during the Northern and Italian Renaissance in pieces like Van Eyck’s Ghent Altarpiece (1432) and Giotto’s Scrovegni Chapel (1305) respectively. Similarly, the sailor’s stance on the prow of his boat is quintessential contrapposto—the Italian word to describe the posture of a subject in a work of art where the upper body is twisted away from the legs and hips on the axial plane. Contrapposto was developed over 2,000 years ago during the golden age of Hellenistic sculpture around 400 BCE and is considered today to be one of the greatest and most lasting achievements of Ancient Greek Art. Perhaps the most famous example of contrapposto is Michelangelo’s David and certainly this piece by Du Bois, Grisaille Portrait of Sailor Youth, evokes a similar aura of youthful eroticism and Adonic male beauty. Lastly, the flat, angular bridge of the nose along with the simple, geometric delineation of the abdominal musculature are piercingly reminiscent of the faces and bodes in Picasso’s Self Portrait (1907) and Standing Female Nude (1908). Du Bois’s style of painting is not outright Cubism, but the influence of Picasso is evident. It is likely that this piece could have been a sketch for a costume design or even a prop or backdrop on one of Du Bois’ many sets that he managed. However we can never rule out the possibility that he intended Grisailles Portrait of Sailor Youth as a stand-alone painting. What is certain is that Du Bois’ creative vision shaped American film and theatre during the twentieth century and after his untimely stroke in 1985, the New York Public Library acquired his archives given his significant cultural impact and contributions the the nation’s arts and letters. Grisailles Portrait of Sailor Youth is a unique piece by a Broadway giant that combines daring eroticism, theatrical flair, and a masterful knowledge of art historical techniques in order to render this work at once radically fresh and rooted firmly in tradition. Overall Size: 62 x 40 in. Sight Size: 58 x 36 in.