LUCIEN-VICTOR GUIRAND DE SCÉVOLA Sète, 1871 - Paris, 1950 Portrait of a Woman Signed Guirand de Scévola and dated 1903 lower left Oil on canvas, 73X61 cm Known and appreciated for his refined compositions often dominated by female figures immersed in surreal settings and emotionally charged landscapes. His palette of soft, veiled colours creates delicate and melancholic atmospheres. Scevola has largely allowed himself to be inspired by poetry and mythology, reflecting these themes through a refined use of light and colour, which give his works an aura of mystery and magic. Also excellent as a portraitist, he produced portraits of numerous prominent figures in French society, using a sophisticated technique that enhances the nobility and elegance of his subjects, giving a sense of eternity to the faces. Guirand de Scévola was born in Sète, France, and studied at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris under Gustave Moreau, one of the main representatives of Symbolism, a movement that would profoundly influence his work, especially in the early years of his career. His works are exhibited in various museums and private collections, and his contribution to Symbolism will make him a major figure in the French art scene of the late 19th and early 20th century.