Michael Werner Gallery, Beverly Hills is pleased to present its inaugural exhibition Markus Lüpertz - Pierre Puvis de Chavannes. This groundbreaking exhibition pairs paintings of Markus Lüpertz (b. 1941), one of the most important German painters of the post-war period, with paintings and drawings of 19th Century French master Pierre Puvis de Chavannes (1824-1898).
Over the course of a nearly seven-decade career, Lüpertz has created an expansive body of work, which art historian Aimée Brown Price describes as “replete with staunch emotional, historical, and personal content.” Lüpertz mulls over, repeats, and recontextualizes imagery with deep cultural and personal resonance, often culling from the work of past artists, such as Poussin, Rembrandt, Goya, and Courbet. Lüpertz has said, “I live with artists I routinely retrieve from the recesses of history, and then they become a part of my everyday life, they are my companions, they exist for me. I deal with them as if they were alive.”
Lüpertz has been engaged with Puvis de Chavannes since 2011, connecting himself to a lineage of important, renowned artists who have been inspired by the great French master. During his lifetime, Puvis de Chavannes pushed forward modernism and influenced the work of Seurat, Gauguin, and Cézanne. Posthumously, he influenced Matisse as well as Picasso’s Blue Period. Van Gogh called him the “master of us all.”
The paintings by Lüpertz in the exhibition date from 2013 and chart his exchange with Puvis de Chavannes over the ensuing decade. At times, Lüpertz pays homage by incorporating objects and figures from Puvis de Chavannes’s paintings into his compositions. Other times, he simply evokes the unique, mystic classicism that permeates the works of Puvis de Chavannes. Lüpertz’s paintings are complemented by an impressive array of drawings and paintings by Puvis de Chavannes, some of which are landscapes, preparatory drawings for commissions, epic scenes, and portraiture.
Markus Lüpertz has been the subject of numerous surveys in recent years, including at the Hirshhorn Museum and the Phillips Collection, Washington, DC; the Musée d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris; Kunst- und Austellungshalle der Bundesrepublik Deutschland, Bonn; Haus der Kunst, Munich; Gemeentemuseum, The Hague; The Hermitage State Museum, St. Petersburg, the Moscow Museum of Modern Art; and Palazzo Loredan, Venice.
Pierre Puvis de Chavannes was called “the painter of France” during his lifetime. His works hang in major museums around the world, including The Louvre, Musée d’Orsay, Petit Palais, Musée Picasso, The Rijksmuseum, The Art Institute of Chicago, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Smithsonian, and Carnegie Museum of Art, to name only a few.
![Markus Lüpertz
“Die Mäher (P.B.) [The Mowers (P.B.)]”, 2022
Oil on canvas in artist's frame
51 1/4 x 74 3/4 inches
130 x 190 cm
ML 2484](https://img.artlogic.net/w_1800,h_1800,c_limit/exhibit-e/5e1f7ecca5aa2c6c639069eb/3ceda75e4a3d659512c5edb5c9a9eef1.jpeg)
![Markus Lüpertz
“Auferstehung (P.B.) [Resurrection (P.B.)]”, 2022
Oil on canvas in artist's frame
51 1/4 x 74 3/4 inches
130 x 190 cm
ML 2485](https://img.artlogic.net/w_1800,h_1800,c_limit/exhibit-e/5e1f7ecca5aa2c6c639069eb/e5d3dbece99647385812a4fd7702029e.jpeg)
![Pierre Puvis de Chavannes
“Deux muses (Étude pour Le Bois Sacré)
(Two Muses [Study for The Sacred Grove])”, ca. 1884-1885
Pencil on paper
11 1/2 x 6 3/4 inches
29 x 17 cm
PCZ 82](https://img.artlogic.net/w_1800,h_1800,c_limit/exhibit-e/5e1f7ecca5aa2c6c639069eb/f385ab7d5dc150d9537be5d9ef142c9e.jpeg)
Markus Lüpertz
"Rotes Boot (Red Boat)", 2013
Mixed media on canvas in artist's frame
32 x 39 1/4 inches
81 x 100 cm
ML 2148
Markus Lüpertz
"Nacht (Night)", 2013
Mixed media on canvas in artist's frame
32 x 39 1/4 inches
81 x 100 cm
ML 2149
Markus Lüpertz
“Orpheus”, 2014
Mixed media on canvas in artist's frame
Two parts, overall:
64 1/4 x 39 1/4 inches
163.5 x 100 cm
ML 2174
Markus Lüpertz
“Untitled”, 2016
Mixed media on canvas in artist's frame
44 x 67 3/4 inches
112 x 172 cm
ML 2219
Markus Lüpertz
“Narziss II (Narcissus II)”, 2016
Mixed media on canvas in artist's frame
39 1/4 x 32 inches
100 x 81 cm
ML 2246
Markus Lüpertz
“Besuch von Pierre (Visit from Pierre)”, 2018
Mixed media on canvas in artist's frame
39 1/4 x 32 inches
100 x 81 cm
ML 2322
Markus Lüpertz
“Lido”, 2020
Mixed media on canvas in artist's frame
80 x 97 1/4 inches
203 x 247 cm
ML 2353
Markus Lüpertz
“Student”, 2020
Mixed media on canvas in artist's frame
Two parts, overall:
39 1/4 x 64 1/4 inches
100 x 163 cm
ML 2355
Markus Lüpertz
“Caput Mortuum”, 2020
Mixed media on canvas in artist's frame
45 3/4 x 38 1/4 inches
116 x 97 cm
ML 2387
Markus Lüpertz
“Russisch Grün (Russian Green)”, 2020
Mixed media on canvas in artist's frame
45 3/4 x 38 1/4 inches
116 x 97 cm
ML 2390
Markus Lüpertz
“Siethen See (Siethen Lake)”, 2020
Mixed media on canvas in artist's frame
51 1/4 x 63 3/4 inches
130 x 162 cm
ML 2413
Markus Lüpertz
“Wietstock Bacchanal”, 2020
Mixed media on canvas in artist's frame
32 x 39 1/4 inches
81 x 100 cm
ML 2426
Markus Lüpertz
“Untitled”, 2020
Mixed media on canvas in artist's frame
11 3/4 x 9 1/2 inches
30 x 24 cm
ML 2434
Markus Lüpertz
“Untitled”, 2020
Mixed media on canvas in artist's frame
11 3/4 x 9 1/2 inches
30 x 24 cm
ML 2435
Markus Lüpertz
“Amor + Psyche”, 2020
Mixed media, collage on press board in artist's frame
32 1/4 x 36 1/4 inches
82 x 92 cm
ML 2441
![Markus Lüpertz
“Die Mäher (P.B.) [The Mowers (P.B.)]”, 2022
Oil on canvas in artist's frame
51 1/4 x 74 3/4 inches
130 x 190 cm
ML 2484](https://img.artlogic.net/w_647,h_647,c_limit/exhibit-e/5e1f7ecca5aa2c6c639069eb/3ceda75e4a3d659512c5edb5c9a9eef1.jpeg)
Markus Lüpertz
“Die Mäher (P.B.) [The Mowers (P.B.)]”, 2022
Oil on canvas in artist's frame
51 1/4 x 74 3/4 inches
130 x 190 cm
ML 2484
![Markus Lüpertz
“Auferstehung (P.B.) [Resurrection (P.B.)]”, 2022
Oil on canvas in artist's frame
51 1/4 x 74 3/4 inches
130 x 190 cm
ML 2485](https://img.artlogic.net/w_647,h_647,c_limit/exhibit-e/5e1f7ecca5aa2c6c639069eb/e5d3dbece99647385812a4fd7702029e.jpeg)
Markus Lüpertz
“Auferstehung (P.B.) [Resurrection (P.B.)]”, 2022
Oil on canvas in artist's frame
51 1/4 x 74 3/4 inches
130 x 190 cm
ML 2485
Markus Lüpertz
“Magdalena (P.B.)”, 2022
Oil on canvas in artist's frame
51 1/4 x 74 3/4 inches
130 x 190 cm
ML 2486
Pierre Puvis de Chavannes
“Femme astiquant un cuivre
(Woman Cleaning a Copper Pot)”, ca. 1854
Charcoal on paper
10 1/4 x 8 1/4 inches
26 x 21 cm
PCZ 4
Pierre Puvis de Chavannes
“Portrait de Femme de Profil
(Portrait of a Woman in Profile)”, ca. 1857–1860
Oil on wood
21 1/2 x 17 3/4 inches
54.5 x 45 cm
PC 11
Pierre Puvis de Chavannes
“Étude pour Le Christ aux liens
(Study for Christ with Tormentors)”, 1858
Pencil on paper
20 3/4 x 11 1/2 inches
53 x 29 cm
PCZ 25
Pierre Puvis de Chavannes
“Bergers dans la vallée de Chamonix
(Shepherds in the Chamonix Valley)”, 1860
Gouache on paper
11 x 8 3/4 inches
28 x 22.5 cm
PCZ 103
Pierre Puvis de Chavannes
“Esquisse pour L´Histoire
(Sketch for History)”, 1866
Oil on canvas
17 3/4 x 10 1/4 inches
45 x 26 cm
PC 17
Pierre Puvis de Chavannes
“Étude pour Le Sommeil
(Study for Sleep)”, 1867
Pencil on paper
12 1/4 x 9 1/4 inches
31.5 x 24 cm
PCZ 1
Pierre Puvis de Chavannes
“Étude pour La Décollation de saint Jean-Baptiste
(Study for The Beheading of Saint John the Baptist)”, ca. 1869
Pencil on paper
11 3/4 x 8 3/4 inches
30 x 22 cm
PCZ 99
Pierre Puvis de Chavannes
“Esquisse pour Le Pigeon voyageur
(Sketch for The Carrier Pigeon)”, 1870
Oil on canvas
16 x 9 3/4 inches
40.5 x 24.5 cm
PC 18
Pierre Puvis de Chavannes
“Esquisse pour Le Ballon
(Sketch for The Balloon)”, 1870
Oil on canvas
16 x 9 3/4 inches
40.5 x 24.5 cm
PC 19
Pierre Puvis de Chavannes
“Sous-bois (Undergrowth)”, ca. 1870-1890
Pastel on paper
10 1/4 x 12 1/2 inches
26 x 32 cm
PCZ 105
Pierre Puvis de Chavannes
“Étude de pierres
(Study of Stones)”, ca. 1870–1890
Watercolor, pencil on paper
4 3/4 x 8 inches
12 x 20.5 cm
PCZ 58
Pierre Puvis de Chavannes
“Nue assis (Seated Nude)”, ca. 1872-1873
Black chalk on paper
12 1/4 x 9 1/2 inches
30.5 x 24 cm
PCZ 94
Pierre Puvis de Chavannes
“Étude pour Charles Martel, vainqueur de Sarrasins à Poitiers
(Study for Charles Martel, Victor over the Saracens at Poitiers)”, ca. 1873-1874
Pencil on paper
11 x 17 inches
28 x 43 cm
PCZ 106
Pierre Puvis de Chavannes
“Femme agenouillée
(Kneeling Woman)”, ca. 1875-1876
Pencil, charcoal, white chalk on paper
11 1/2 x 8 3/4 inches
29.5 x 22.5 cm
PCZ 90
Pierre Puvis de Chavannes
“Étude pour Orphée
(Study for Orpheus)”, 1883
Charcoal on paper
9 1/2 x 12 1/2 inches
24.5 x 32 cm
PCZ 16
![Pierre Puvis de Chavannes
“Deux muses (Étude pour Le Bois Sacré)
(Two Muses [Study for The Sacred Grove])”, ca. 1884-1885
Pencil on paper
11 1/2 x 6 3/4 inches
29 x 17 cm
PCZ 82](https://img.artlogic.net/w_647,h_647,c_limit/exhibit-e/5e1f7ecca5aa2c6c639069eb/f385ab7d5dc150d9537be5d9ef142c9e.jpeg)
Pierre Puvis de Chavannes
“Deux muses (Étude pour Le Bois Sacré)
(Two Muses [Study for The Sacred Grove])”, ca. 1884-1885
Pencil on paper
11 1/2 x 6 3/4 inches
29 x 17 cm
PCZ 82
Pierre Puvis de Chavannes
“Erato ou Euterpe
(Erato or Euterpe)”, ca. 1889
Oil on canvas
17 1/4 x 9 1/2 inches
43.5 x 24.5 cm
PC 7
Pierre Puvis de Chavannes
“Baigneurs dans un sous-bois
(Bathers Under Trees)”, ca. 1890-1891
Oil, pastel on canvas
16 1/4 x 12 1/2 inches
41 x 32 cm
PC 2
Pierre Puvis de Chavannes
“Esquisse pour L’Été
(Sketch for Summer)”, 1891
Charcoal on canvas
53 1/4 x 29 1/2 inches
135 x 75 cm
PC 4
Pierre Puvis de Chavannes
“Esquisse pour Le Bûcheron
(Sketch for The Woodcutter)”, 1892
Oil on canvas
13 3/4 x 10 3/4 inches
35 x 27 cm
PC 3
Pierre Puvis de Chavannes
“Mère et son fils
(Mother and her Son)”, ca. 1893-1898
Charcoal, chalk on paper
12 1/2 x 9 1/4 inches
31.5 x 23.5 cm
PCZ 102
Pierre Puvis de Chavannes
“Étude pour Les Muses inspiratrices acclamant le génie, messager de lumière
(Study for The Inspiring Muses Hailing Genius, Messenger of Light)”, ca. 1894-1896
Charcoal, pastel on paper
14 3/4 x 10 3/4 inches
37.5 x 27 cm
PCZ 77
