Lot 420
Francis Luis Mora (American, 1874-1940), Dance of Salome, oil on canvas, signed lower left, 66 in. x 87 in., in an ornate giltwood period frame. E10000-15000 Provenance: Estate of Francis Luis Mora, New York to George Guerry, New York. Note: The son of a Spanish sculptor, Francis Luis Mora studied at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts School and Arts Student League. An accomplished illustrator, Mora primarily worked in New York City as a free-lance artist for leading periodicals and magazines of the day. Mora also earned mural commissions for the Lynn Massachusetts Public Library and Missouri State Building at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition in 1904. This painting of the Dance of Salome reflects his talents as both an illustrator and muralist. At the turn of the century, the biblical story of Salome and King Herod attracted the attention of the American public. Playwright Oscar Wilde's version of Salome was banned in England and later performed in Paris by celebrated actress Sarah Bernhardt. Gertrude Hoffman popularized the Salome Dance in the early nineteen hundreds and later Theda Bara, Eva Tanguay and Gaby Desyls danced the Seven Veils. Several movies were made at this time about the story including Vision of Salome, Salome Mad and Butterfly Dance. Apparently influenced by the Salome fascination, Luis Mora painted this mural of Salome as she is dancing the Seven Veils at the request of her stepfather Herod. In return for dancing, Salome demands the death of John the Baptist.
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