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ID #SA880520
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£460
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Jazzy Mid Century Depiction of a Trumpeter and Clown, Archille Zavatta Gouache Painting on Paper
For sale by Skippings Fine Arts
for sale €538     $584
£460
Skippings Fine Arts

Skippings Fine Arts

Sellingantiques Verified Since Feb 2018
Browse dealers 167 items
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    Modern french & continental pictures selected by a former french auction house expert
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Jazzy Mid Century Depiction of a Trumpeter and Clown, Archille Zavatta Gouache Painting on Paper

1940 - 1960
Description

A vibrant and jazzy depiction of the trumpeter and clown Zavatta by French artist Rodolphe Caillaux (1904-1989).

Caillaux made his debut as a painter at the Salon des Indépendants in 1928, at the same time as Alexander Calder, Otto Freundlich , Jean Hélion and Joaquin Torres Garcia. He entered the Salon d'Automne in 1932, later becoming a member of the Committee of the Salon des Indépendants, and President of the Salon Comparaisons.

Born in Montmartre, and with a studio at the "Montmartre-aux-Artistes" artist colony at 189, Rue Ordener, Caillaux exhibited at the most important Parisian Galleries such as the Galerie Charpentier, the Galerie Drouant, and the Galerie La Belle Gabrielle.

Rodolphe Cailaux's first career had been as an entertainer in Music Halls, and he retained a love for everything vaudeville, cabaret, mime and music. This is much in evidence in the portrait of the circus man and close friend Achille Zavatta. Zavatta was a clown, acrobat, trapeze artist and musician. He played the drums, the saxophone and, as shown here, the trumpet.

Our painting of Zavatta was of particular significance to Caillaux and was used as the design for a lithograph, as indicates an inscription by the artist on the verso. The artwork has strong graphics with almost a touch of art deco.

Painted in gouache/bodycolour on paper, it measures 55 x 38 cm at sight and is signed at the lower right. Dating from the 1950s, it is presented in its original mid century modern frame. The overall framed size is 71 x 60 cm.

Physical Dimensions
Height
55cm (21.65")
Width
38cm (14.96")
Depth
1cm (0.39")
Declaration

Skippings Fine Arts has dated this Mid-century Clown Gouache Painting to the 1950s.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Reference
SA880520
Dealers Notes

Nous parlons français, und wir sprechen auch Deutsch! Paintings may be viewed in Norwich and in Paris, as well as in London and Cambridge by appointment. Please contact us if you would like further details and images of an artwork.

Description
A vibrant and jazzy depiction of the trumpeter and clown Zavatta by French artist Rodolphe Caillaux (1904-1989).
“
Caillaux made his debut as a painter at the Salon des Indépendants in 1928, at the same time as Alexander Calder, Otto Freundlich , Jean Hélion and Joaquin Torres Garcia.
Skippings Fine Arts

He entered the Salon d'Automne in 1932, later becoming a member of the Committee of the Salon des Indépendants, and President of the Salon Comparaisons.

fig 1. A mid-century gouache painting on paper illustrating a clown in a red jacket and patterned trousers seated on a chair while playing a golden trumpet.
fig 1. Jazzy Mid Century Depiction of a Trumpeter and Clown, Archille Zavatta Gouache Painting on Paper

Born in Montmartre, and with a studio at the "Montmartre-aux-Artistes" artist colony at 189, Rue Ordener, Caillaux exhibited at the most important Parisian Galleries such as the Galerie Charpentier, the Galerie Drouant, and the Galerie La Belle Gabrielle.

fig 2. A mid-century gouache painting on paper illustrating a clown in a red jacket and patterned trousers seated on a chair while playing a golden trumpet.
fig 2. Jazzy Mid Century Depiction of a Trumpeter and Clown, Archille Zavatta Gouache Painting on Paper

Rodolphe Cailaux's first career had been as an entertainer in Music Halls, and he retained a love for everything vaudeville, cabaret, mime and music. This is much in evidence in the portrait of the circus man and close friend Achille Zavatta. Zavatta was a clown, acrobat, trapeze artist and musician. He played the drums, the saxophone and, as shown here, the trumpet.

fig 3. A mid-century gouache painting on paper illustrating a clown in a red jacket and patterned trousers seated on a chair while playing a golden trumpet.
fig 3. Jazzy Mid Century Depiction of a Trumpeter and Clown, Archille Zavatta Gouache Painting on Paper

Our painting of Zavatta was of particular significance to Caillaux and was used as the design for a lithograph, as indicates an inscription by the artist on the verso. The artwork has strong graphics with almost a touch of art deco.

fig 4. A mid-century gouache painting on paper illustrating a clown in a red jacket and patterned trousers seated on a chair while playing a golden trumpet.
fig 4. Jazzy Mid Century Depiction of a Trumpeter and Clown, Archille Zavatta Gouache Painting on Paper

Painted in gouache/bodycolour on paper, it measures 55 x 38 cm at sight and is signed at the lower right. Dating from the 1950s, it is presented in its original mid century modern frame. The overall framed size is 71 x 60 cm.

Height
55cm (21.65")
Width
38cm (14.96")
Depth
1cm (0.39")
Date of Manufacture

Skippings Fine Arts has dated this Mid-century Clown Gouache Painting to the 1950s.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Ref
SA880520
Skippings Fine Arts
Skippings Fine Arts
Sellingantiques verified Since Feb 2018

Modern french & continental pictures selected by a former french auction house expert

Dealer Profile

You can view the stock and full dealer information on the Skippings Fine Arts Profile Page

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A mid-century gouache painting on paper illustrating a clown in a red jacket and patterned trousers seated on a chair while playing a golden trumpet.
1 / 5
Archive I A mid-century gouache painting on paper illustrating a clown in a red jacket and patterned trousers seated on a chair while playing a golden trumpet.

Jazzy Mid Century Depiction of a Trumpeter and Clown, Archille Zavatta Gouache Painting on Paper

Archive II A mid-century gouache painting on paper illustrating a clown in a red jacket and patterned trousers seated on a chair while playing a golden trumpet. View II
Archive III A mid-century gouache painting on paper illustrating a clown in a red jacket and patterned trousers seated on a chair while playing a golden trumpet. View III
Archive IV A mid-century gouache painting on paper illustrating a clown in a red jacket and patterned trousers seated on a chair while playing a golden trumpet. View IV
Archive V A mid-century gouache painting on paper illustrating a clown in a red jacket and patterned trousers seated on a chair while playing a golden trumpet. View V
Enlarged Archival View
Skippings Fine Arts

Skippings Fine Arts
Telephone 0747 257 2398
Location
Norfolk
United Kingdom

By appointment
Dealer Profile Page sellingantiques.co.uk/skippingsfinearts
Verified Since Feb 2018
Items For Sale 167
Items Sold 686
Skippings Fine Arts
Skippings Fine Arts
Verified Since Feb 2018
View Dealer Info
Location: Norfolk, United Kingdom, , By appointment
Profile: sellingantiques.co.uk/skippingsfinearts
Verified
Feb 2018
For Sale
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A mid-century gouache painting on paper illustrating a clown in a red jacket and patterned trousers seated on a chair while playing a golden trumpet.
Jazzy mid century depiction of a trumpeter and clown, Archille Zavatta gouache painting on paper
Ref: SA880520
A mid-century gouache painting on paper illustrating a clown in a red jacket and patterned trousers seated on a chair while playing a golden trumpet.
Detail View 1
Detail View 2
Detail View 3
Detail View 4
Archival Detail

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Cataloguer’s note

Written by Sellingantiques from the dealer’s photographs and listing
  • ObjectPaintings
  • Period1940 - 1960
  • StyleMid-Century Modern
  • MaterialGouache, Ink, Paper
  • ColourRed and Black
  • MotifsGraphic line work, Checkered trousers, Trumpet musician, Red jacket
  • SizeH 55 cm (22 in) x W 38 cm (15 in) x D 1 cm (0 in)

This mid-century modern gouache and ink painting on paper portrays the clown and trumpeter Achille Zavatta seated on a red chair while playing a golden trumpet. Created in 1950 by French artist Rodolphe Caillaux, the artwork features bold graphic line work, a red jacket, and checkered trousers against a stark black background, with the artist's signature inscribed at the lower right. The visual composition captures the subject in vivid red and black tones with accents of white and yellow. The unframed work measures 55 cm high, 38 cm wide, and 1 cm deep. In a contemporary interior, this painting hangs suitably above a sideboard or console table in a living room, hallway, or study. The mid-century style integrates easily into modern or eclectic gallery walls, bringing a vibrant theatrical motif to domestic spaces.

FAQs

Mid-century figurative gouache artwork is characterised by opaque watercolour pigments, strong graphic linework, expressive colour palettes, and stylized human subjects prominent during the 1950s and 1960s.

Gouache paintings are created using natural water-based pigments bound with gum arabic and inert white pigment to create opacity, applied directly onto thick paper, board, or card.

Authentic period works show natural age toning to the paper, evidence of original artist signatures or inscriptions, distinct mid-20th-century colour palettes, and hand-applied brushwork.

Display the artwork framed in a slim oak or black frame with an acid-free mount, placed above a sideboard or integrated into a gallery wall alongside mid-century furniture.

Gouache works must be framed behind UV-protective glass, mounted using acid-free materials, and kept away from direct sunlight, excess humidity, and moisture to prevent fading and pigment degradation.
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