Constantinople

Adrien-Jean Le Mayeur de Merprès 1880 - 1958 ​ Born in Ixelles in Belgium in a family of aristocrats. Very young he showed obvious graphic gifts and the desire to become a painter. Apart from his father, himself a renowned painter for his seascapes, there are few traces of a pictorial teaching. First exhibition in 1906, already noted for the talents of colorist of the young painter. Until the First World War he stayed mainly in his native country, making many canvases of countryside, ports, cities, with a few escapades in Holland or in the south of France. The end of the war marks a new page with the call to travel in search of other colors and other themes. Venice in 1919-1920, North Africa in 1920, India in 1920-1921, Cambodia and Burma in 1921, again Venice and southern France in 1921-1922, then back to Brussels in 1923 New departure in 1927 for Madagascar, Djibouti, Istanbul in 1928, return to Europe. Then Tahiti and first stay in Bali in 1929-1930, India again before returning to Brussels via Marseille. In Istanbul in 1931 then again in Venice. New departure for Bali in 1932 where he intends to settle for 3 years. He will in fact remain there until the end of his days and will produce countless paintings and drawings which will establish his fame throughout the world. The work presented here is a drawing from Istanbul.