Diptych Byzantine Heads by Alfons Mucha

This sumptuous decorative diptych represents one of the most accomplished expressions of jewelry ornamentation and the beauty ideal of the Belle Époque. Drawn by the great illustrator Alphonse Mucha, this famous double composition entitled “Diptych Byzantine Heads” highlights two female profiles adorned with imperial headdresses of extraordinary richness. The work flourishes in a revisited Byzantine style, combining the rigor of circular patterns with the plant flexibility specific to Art Nouveau.

The two panels each present a central circular medallion encased within a beige frame decorated with symmetrical ornamental volutes and palmettes. On the left, a brunette woman seen in profile faces right, wearing a metallic crown decorated with red flowers and voluminous circular earrings set with multicolored pearls. On the right, a blonde woman seen in profile faces left, wearing a white tiara surmounted by pearls and a large azure blue circular plate covering her ear. The backgrounds of the discs feature abstract patterns and stylized foliage while small colored stones enhance the splendor of each headdress.

Technical virtuosity is fully expressed in the millimetric precision of the goldsmith’s details and the silky rendering of the hair. His exceptional mastery of lithography makes it possible to reproduce the sumptuosity of the jewels with an extraordinary decorative realism. This work bears witness to an artisanal know-how of unequaled quality.