Messell (Oliver) Juliet 1st scene, original watercolour for the frontispiece of Romeo and Juliet

Messell (Oliver)

Juliet 1st scene,

original watercolour for the frontispiece of Romeo and Juliet, signed in pencil and titled upper right, on board, further inscribed ‘Juliet with Gazelle’ verso, some browning in margins, 56 x 38 cm; with a copy of the book featuring the published frontispiece: Romeo and Juliet, 8 tipped in coloured plates, original cloth, torn dust jacket, 4to, Batsford Ltd., 1936.

***In the autumn of 1935, Messel was commissioned to design the settings and costumes for the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Hollywood production of Romeo and Juliet, produced by Irivng Thalberg, directed by George Cukor, and starring Norma Shearer and Leslie Howard. The costume sketches and set designs were inspired by works of Benozzo Gozzoli, Sandro Botticelli, Vittore Carpaccio, Fra Angelico, Giovanni Bellini, and other painters who provided a wealth of details for the costumes and settings. The film came out in 1936 and Messell's designs were nominated for an Oscar.

Provenance: purchased from the Leicester Galleries, from the exhibition held in July 1936. Gallery label and newspaper review to verso of frame.