Toffoli Tapestry, Robert Four Workshops, Aubusson, Children of the Sun, 20th Century

Tapestry by Louis Toffoli* (after a cartoon by the painter) "Children of the Sun," woven by the Robert Four workshops in Aubusson (signed lower left), dating from the 20th century.

This tapestry is in good condition. Signed at the bottom by the artist (right) and the workshop (left).

Note: minimal wear consistent with age, see photos.

* Louis Toffoli

was a French painter and lithographer born in Trieste (then on the Austrian coast) on October 16, 1907, to an Italian father and a Slovenian mother, and died on February 18, 1999, in Créteil. Having successively held Austro-Hungarian, Italian, and French citizenship, Toffoli declared himself "from Trieste" and signed his paintings neither Luigi nor Louis, but simply Toffoli. In 1924, he entered the Naval Academy in Trieste but had to interrupt his studies. He then became a blacksmith, a physically demanding job that influenced his perception of gesture and manual labor. At the same time, he attended evening classes at the Trieste Academy of Fine Arts, where he began to develop his own artistic vision. In 1930, fleeing fascism, he left Italy and settled in Paris, in the Goutte d'Or district of Paris. The beginnings were difficult, but he eventually joined the atelier of couturier Denis Kalman on the Faubourg Saint-Honoré, where he worked as a pattern maker. This experience in haute couture enriched his sense of detail, materials, and forms. In 1935, Toffoli returned fully to painting. He exhibited his first works at Parisian salons: the Salon d'Automne and the Salon des Indépendants, among others. There, he developed a personal style, nourished by his life experiences, his sense of movement, and his interest in faces and everyday scenes. But it was from the 1950s onward, with the discovery of lithography, that his career took on a truly international dimension. This technique allowed him to sublimate light and transparency, characteristics of his style. He became one of the great French masters of contemporary lithography. Louis Toffoli's works are exhibited throughout the world: the United States, Brazil, Morocco, Spain, and of course, France. His art transcends borders and cultures, driven by an aesthetic that is both human and universal. In 1995, a museum dedicated to him was opened in Charenton-le-Pont, where he lived. This place pays tribute to his entire body of work and testifies to the impact of his art on French cultural heritage.

Dimensions

Dimensions: 144 cm x 108.5 cm
F30 1277
All photos are available at:
www.antiques-delaval.com

Ref: GWLSSMMU24