R. GEORGIUS (Active circa 1930) - Lot 170

R. GEORGIUS (Active circa 1930) Ali Pasha and Kira Vassiliki On its original canvas Signed lower right R. Georgius nach Jacobs 149 x 169 cm Provenance : - Patrick Guerrand-Hermès sale, Paris (Sotheby's), October 9, 2012, no. 13, reproduced. Remake of the painting Paul-Emil Jacobs executed in Rome in 1840 for the King of Württemberg's "Villa Wilhelma" (London sale (Sotheby's), April 17, 2008, no. 12, reproduced). The painting's original title was Scheherazade Telling a Story to the Caliph, in keeping with Wilhelma's orientalist spirit. However, the work was produced during Jacobs' Greek period, and most probably depicts Kira Vassiliki (1789-1834) and Ali Pacha (1740-1822). This composition became one of Jacobs' most emblematic, widely circulated through the lithographs of Franz Hanfstaengel and C. Fischer, and also inspired Theodoros Vryzakis' drawing Ali Pacha et Kira Vassiliki. This painting depicts an intimate moment, charged with tenderness and love. Kira, daughter of Kitzos Kontaxis, joined Ali Pasha's harem at a very young age. Thanks to her beauty and loyalty, she wins the sovereign's love and favor, and uses it to spare the lives of many of her compatriots. Originally from Tepeleni (Albania), Ali Pacha became governor of Ionnie after a period of wars and revolts. Through his relations with England and Napoleon Bonaparte, he acquired a certain notoriety in the Western world. Lord Byron visited him during his stay in the region, and he is mentioned several times in works by Victor Hugor, Alexandre Dumas and Balzac. His eventful life, immense wealth and famous harem became a legend for Europeans. Fascinated by Ali Pacha's personality and his love affair with Kira Vassiliki, many of the great painters of the time took up this subject, including Monvoisin, Faucher and Vryzakis.