Theater Model. Jean-charles Duval. Early 20th Century

A symbolist scene with figures and flowers.
At the top left is the dedication with the signature, the painting was offered by the author to friends.
This is probably a theatrical project or an interior decoration.
The abundance of flowers suggests in hypothesis: Persephone.
Mixedtechnique on paper: watercolor and gouache. On the back - the address of the former owners (or of the shipment?) with stamp.

Jean-Charles Duval was a French painter, draftsman, pastellist and decorator.
Born in Paris (1880-1963), and having frequented the workshops of René Ménard and Degas.

Orientalist, friend of Edgar Degas, he traveled to Algeria in 1908. Later was called, in 1924, by General Weygand, High Commissioner in Syria, as a resident of the French Institute of Muslim Art in Damascus.

The painter made a series of drawings and watercolors in Damascus and Aleppo, documenting the archaeological ruins. In addition, he also drew artists and shows from the Russian ballets (1910-1911) as well as dancers and shows from the Paris Opera. In 1965, the Library-Museum of the Opera bought forty sketches of performance scenes