The painting Lucifer by Franz von Stuck on loan to the Musee d’Orsay in Paris
March 15th – June 27th 2010
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Late in the evening on Monday, March 15th 2010, at the Musee d’Orsay in Paris, the French Museum second in importance to world-famous Louvre, Mr Frederic Mitterrand, France’s Minister of Culture, opened the exhibition “Crime and Punishment” (Crime et Chatiment). From Goya to Picasso”.
The opening was attended by French intellectuals, members of the higher administration and many art lovers. Minister Mitterrand greeted the Exhibition Commissary, the board of the Musee d’Orsay and all European museums and galleries that had taken part in the realization of the exhibition. He pointed out that the display has become a fact thanks to the exceptional professionalism and the good will for cooperation of the various European cultural institutions involved.
The exhibition “Crime and Punishment. From Goya to Picasso”, in a clear reference to F.M. Dostoyevsky’s famous novel, sets itself the goal to present the Evil beyond the ambit of social conditions, crime and metaphysical torments through the means of music, literature and the visual arts. It is the latest project of Gerard Regnier, known by the provocative pen name of Jean Clair, after his hugely successful exhibitions “The Soul in the Body” (L’Ame au corps, 1994, Grand Palais) and “Melancholy. Genius and Madness in the West” (Paris, Grand Palais, October 2005–January 2006).
In the exhibition “Crime and Punishment. From Goya to Picasso”, Jean Clair has included works from the 18th to 20th century, owned by various European galleries and museums. Bulgaria and its National Gallery for Foreign Art contributed the painting Lucifer by the well-known German artist Franz von Stuck, a work created in 1890.
Occupying a prime position in the exhibition, Lucifer draws the interest of visitors with its dramatic philosophical interpretation of the ‘eternal theme’ of the fallen angel.
FRANZ VON STUCK (1863-1928). Germany
LUCIFER. 1891
In 1890 the artist painted in succession two works entitled Lucifer (he reproduced all his important oil paintings in the graphic medium). The homonymous engraving is now in Munich at the Villa Stuck, while the painting is in Sofia, at the National Gallery for Foreign Art. It was acquired, soon after its completion, by the Bulgarian Prince Ferdinand I (then also young, of the same age as the author), who purchased it from the artist’s studio in 1891. The painting remained in the royal collection until 1930 when, probably as a Christmas gift, it was donated by Tsar Boris III to the National Archaeological Museum (the nucleus of future Bulgarian museum collections). Around 1948 it was transferred to the holdings of the National Art Gallery, and from there, in 1985, to the newly-founded Gallery for Foreign Art, where it has been ever since on display in the permanent exhibition.
The painting has been lent to and shown at the following international exhibitions:
German Art around 1900. Berlin, 1972.
Kingdom of the Spirit. Development of German Symbolism 1870-1920. Frankfurt, Birmingham and Stockholm.
Melancholy. Genius and Madness in the West.. Paris, 2005; Berlin 2006.
Franz von Stuck. The Modern Lucifer. (Trento, Italy, 2006-2007
Franz von Stuck – Meisterwerke der Malerei. Munich, 2008-2009.
