The Palatine Chapel At The Norman Palace, Palermo (sicily) - Henri Le Riche (1866-1944)

Provenance: artist's workshop, then by descent to the last Isère owner, Le Riche was born in Grenoble in 1868.

Admitted to the School of Fine Arts in Paris, he trained with two great masters of his time: William Bouguereau and Robert-Fleury, both leaders of Academicism. Winner of the Prix de Rome in 1888, Le Riche became known for his etchings. This engraving technique earned him the esteem of writers and artists. He then collaborated on the illustration of numerous works by travel writers and poets.

A great traveler himself, he has traveled and represented the four corners of the globe. In the years 1910-1920, Le Riche pursued a brilliant career and entered the Academy of Fine Arts. Championed by the George Petit gallery which devoted several exhibitions to him, his work met with great success in Paris. A traveling painter, Le Riche will travel to the Maghreb, Japan and China.

On this road to the end of the world, Le Riche stays in Palermo and sets up his easel in the chapel of the Norman palace. The Palatine Chapel of the Norman Palace is the most emblematic building of the Arab-Norman style, which combines Romanesque and Arabic architectural elements. Entirely covered with Byzantine mosaics from the 12th century.

This Catholic church built for Roger II of Sicily has no equivalent. The richness of the ornamentation, which covers the entire walls and ceiling, and the relatively small volume gives the visitor the impression of entering a gold hunt, a jewelry chest of incredible luxury.