70. Yiannis Moralis (Greek, 1916-2009) Epithalamique/diptyque signé en grec et daté ' 4/9 1971-72' (en bas à droite); signé, daté et inscrit (au revers) huile sur toile 36 x 50cm (14 3/16 x 19 11/16in). signed in Greek and dated (lower right); signed, dated and inscribed (on the reverse) oil on canvas Provenanace Acquired directly from the artist by the present owner. This perfectly balanced composition of pure form and disciplined rhythm belongs to Moralis's famed epithalamia1 series, a body of work celebrating the erotic union of man and woman. Dictated by the timeless values of ancient Greek art and the classical sense for human scale, the male and female bodies are stripped of descriptive detail and handled in such an abstractive fashion that they take on a symbolical meaning without losing their recognisable form. One can almost trace the progress from the sensual aspects of the subject to the metaphysical and transcendental. 1 Ancient nuptial songs dedicated to the bride and sung on the way to her marital chamber.