Balthus (Balthasar Klossowski de Rola) Paintings

French, 1908-2001

Balthus was born on 29 February 1908 into a cosmopolitan family; his father was of Prussian and Polish origin and his mother, Elsa Dorothea Spiro, nicknamed Baladine, was of Ashkenazi and Russian descent. At the beginning of the war, his family took refuge in Switzerland, where he stayed with his mother while his parents separated. In 1919, his mother met the poet Rainer Maria Rilke (1875 - 1926) who became her lover; Balthus (the nickname of the painter from which he chose his artist's name) was brought up in the artistic milieu of his mother's friends. Balthus moved to Paris with his mother in 1924. He enrolled at the Grande Chaumière academy and frequented Pierre Bonnard's studio. In 1926, he travelled to Italy where he discovered the frescoes of Piero della Francesca and Masaccio, which had a lasting influence on his art. Influenced by the surrealists, he held his first solo exhibition in 1934. Alongside his paintings, which were increasingly successful, he created several theatre, ballet and opera sets, an activity he continued after the war. In 1938, he held his first exhibition in New York. He married Antoinette de Watteville (1912-1997) in 1937 and the couple settled during the war first in Champrovent in Savoie, then in Fribourg in Switzerland where two of their sons were born and finally in Cologny near Geneva from 1942 onwards. In 1945 the couple separated and Balthus returned to Paris. In 1953, Balthus, then aged 45, decided to move to the Château de Chassy in the Morvan region. He was soon joined there by his niece by marriage (the daughter of his brother Pierre Klossowski's wife from her first marriage), Frédérique Tison, who became his muse and mistress. At Chassy, facing the landscapes of the Morvan, in the immense space of the house, Balthus worked and created a huge number of works. His painting evolved to become closer to the fresco, in the manner of the Italian Renaissance masters. Frédérique Tison accompanied Balthus to Rome when he was appointed Director of the Villa Medici by André Malraux in 1961. When they finally broke up in 1966, Balthus gave her Chassy where she settled. In 1962, during a trip to Japan, Balthus met Setsuko Ideta. She became his wife in 1967. In 1977, at the end of their time in Rome, they settled in a large chalet in Rossinière (Switzerland) where the painter lived until his death on 18 February 2001.

Artist: Balthus (Balthasar Klossowski de Rola)

Balthus (Balthasar Klossowski de Rola) Study for « Paysage de Fribourg » - 1943 a drawing by Balthus (1908 - 2001)

$15,819

Study for « Paysage de Fribourg » - 1943 a drawing by Balthus (1908 - 2001)

By Balthus (Balthasar Klossowski de Rola)

Located in PARIS, FR

Provenance: Frédérique Tison, Château de Chassy (Burgundy-Franche Comté - France) Bibliography: J. Clair, V. Monnier Balthus, catalogue raisonné of the complete works, Gallimard, Pa...

Category

1940s Modern Balthus (Balthasar Klossowski de Rola) Paintings

Materials

Paper, Pencil

Irina HaleWhite Houses In Bright Blue Sky Landscape British Modernist Pastel Sketch, Mid 20th Century

$108Sale Price|20% Off

H 4.5 in W 3.75 in

White Houses In Bright Blue Sky Landscape British Modernist Pastel Sketch

By Irina Hale

Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire

Pastel Landscape by Irina Hale (British 1932-2022) pastel sketch on brown artist tracing paper , unframed painting: 4.5 x 3.75 inches provenance: private collection, Cotswolds condit...

Category

Mid-20th Century Modern Balthus (Balthasar Klossowski de Rola) Paintings

Materials

Pastel, Pencil

Irina HaleBell Tower and Buildings In Blue Sky Landscape British Modernist Pastel Sketch, Mid 20th Century

$120Sale Price|20% Off

H 4.5 in W 3.75 in

Bell Tower and Buildings In Blue Sky Landscape British Modernist Pastel Sketch

By Irina Hale

Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire

Pastel Landscape by Irina Hale (British 1932-2022) pastel sketch on brown artist tracing paper , unframed painting: 4.5 x 3.75 inches provenance: private collection, Cotswolds condit...

Category

Mid-20th Century Modern Balthus (Balthasar Klossowski de Rola) Paintings

Materials

Pastel, Pencil

Irina HaleWindy Village Path in Quirky Landscape British Modernist Pastel Sketch, Mid 20th Century

$170

H 4.5 in W 3.75 in

Windy Village Path in Quirky Landscape British Modernist Pastel Sketch

By Irina Hale

Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire

Pastel Landscape by Irina Hale (British 1932-2022) pastel and pencil sketch on brown artist tracing paper , unframed painting: 4.5 x 3.75 inches provenance: private collection, Cotsw...

Category

Mid-20th Century Modern Balthus (Balthasar Klossowski de Rola) Paintings

Materials

Pastel, Pencil

Irina HaleVillage Track In The Colourful Landscape British Modernist Pastel Sketch, Mid 20th Century

$163Sale Price|20% Off

H 4.5 in W 3.75 in

Village Track In The Colourful Landscape British Modernist Pastel Sketch

By Irina Hale

Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire

Pastel Landscape by Irina Hale (British 1932-2022) pastel sketch on brown artist tracing paper , unframed painting: 4.5 x 3.75 inches provenance: private collection, Cotswolds condit...

Category

Mid-20th Century Modern Balthus (Balthasar Klossowski de Rola) Paintings

Materials

Pastel, Pencil

Irina HaleFigure Carrying Water On Her Head Up The Steps British Modernist Pastel Sketch, Mid 20th Century

$136Sale Price|20% Off

H 4.5 in W 3.75 in

Figure Carrying Water On Her Head Up The Steps British Modernist Pastel Sketch

By Irina Hale

Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire

Pastel Landscape by Irina Hale (British 1932-2022) pastel sketch on brown artist tracing paper , unframed painting: 4.5 x 3.75 inches provenance: private collection, Cotswolds condit...

Category

Mid-20th Century Modern Balthus (Balthasar Klossowski de Rola) Paintings

Materials

Pastel, Pencil

Carl Axel ElvegårdEarly Winter in Dalarna Sweden, 1923, 1923

$3,950

H 23.23 in W 28.35 in

Early Winter in Dalarna Sweden, 1923

Located in Stockholm, SE

Carl Axel Elvegård (1883–1962) Sweden Early Winter in Dalarna, 1923 signed and dated lower right Ax. Elvegård 1923 pastel and pencil on paper paper 48.5 × 61.5 cm (19.1 × 24.2 in) ...

Category

1920s Romantic Balthus (Balthasar Klossowski de Rola) Paintings

Materials

Paper, Pastel, Pencil

Irina HalePurple Bell Tower In Village British Modernist Pastel Painting Sketch, Mid 20th Century

$120Sale Price|20% Off

H 4.5 in W 3.75 in

Purple Bell Tower In Village British Modernist Pastel Painting Sketch

By Irina Hale

Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire

Pastel Landscape by Irina Hale (British 1932-2022) pastel and pencil sketch on brown artist tracing paper , unframed painting: 4.5 x 3.75 inches provenance: private collection, Cotsw...

Category

Mid-20th Century Modern Balthus (Balthasar Klossowski de Rola) Paintings

Materials

Pastel, Pencil

Irina HaleFigures Walking Up The Town Steps Landscape British Modernist Pastel Sketch, Mid 20th Century

$108Sale Price|20% Off

H 4.5 in W 3.75 in

Figures Walking Up The Town Steps Landscape British Modernist Pastel Sketch

By Irina Hale

Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire

Pastel Landscape by Irina Hale (British 1932-2022) pastel and pencil sketch on brown artist tracing paper , unframed painting: 4.5 x 3.75 inches provenance: private collection, Cotsw...

Category

Mid-20th Century Modern Balthus (Balthasar Klossowski de Rola) Paintings

Materials

Pastel, Pencil

Maria DeelyPositano (Amalfi Coast, Photorealistic, Italian Landscape, ~41% OFF LIST PRICE), 2025

$1,777Sale Price|40% Off

H 14 in W 11 in

Positano (Amalfi Coast, Photorealistic, Italian Landscape, ~41% OFF LIST PRICE)

By Maria Deely

Located in Kansas City, MO

Maria Deely Positano 2025 Original Drawing with Colored Pencils Size: 14 x 11 inches (35.56 x 27.94 cm) Signed COA provided In this drawing, Maria Deely captures the vibrant spirit ...

Category

2010s Modern Balthus (Balthasar Klossowski de Rola) Paintings

Materials

Color Pencil

Irina HaleStone Castle In Village Town British Modernist Pastel and Pencil Sketch, Mid 20th Century

$120Sale Price|20% Off

H 4.5 in W 3.75 in

Stone Castle In Village Town British Modernist Pastel and Pencil Sketch

By Irina Hale

Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire

Pastel Landscape by Irina Hale (British 1932-2022) pastel and pencil sketch on brown artist tracing paper , unframed painting: 4.5 x 3.75 inches provenance: private collection, Cotsw...

Category

Mid-20th Century Modern Balthus (Balthasar Klossowski de Rola) Paintings

Materials

Pastel, Pencil

Oskar BergmanView Over Baggensfjärden, Stockholm, 1922, 1922

$7,031

H 7.09 in W 10.44 in

View Over Baggensfjärden, Stockholm, 1922

Located in Stockholm, SE

OSKAR BERGMAN (1879–1963) Sweden BAGGENSFJÄRDEN, STOCKHOLM, 1922 signed and dated lower right pencil on paper unframed 18 × 26.5 cm (7.1 × 10.4 in) framed 23.5 × 32 cm (9.3 × 12.6 ...

Category

1920s Realist Balthus (Balthasar Klossowski de Rola) Paintings

Materials

Laid Paper, Pencil

August F. BiehleFarm Landscape, Zoar, Ohio, American Modern, Gouache on Paper, Signed, C. 1923, c. 1923

$3,000

H 17 in W 23 in

Farm Landscape, Zoar, Ohio, American Modern, Gouache on Paper, Signed, C. 1923

By August F. Biehle

Located in Beachwood, OH

August Frederick Biehle (1885-1979) Farm Landscape, Zoar, c. 1923 Gouache, litho crayon and graphite on paper Signed lower right 14 x 19 inches 17 x 23 inches, framed A versatile pa...

Category

1920s American Modern Balthus (Balthasar Klossowski de Rola) Paintings

Materials

Crayon, Gouache, Graphite

Previously Available Items

Balthus (Balthasar Klossowski de Rola) Study for "La Bergerie" - 1957-1960 - a double-sided ink wash signed by Balthus, 1957-1960

Sold

H 11.82 in W 17.82 in

Study for "La Bergerie" - 1957-1960 - a double-sided ink wash signed by Balthus

By Balthus (Balthasar Klossowski de Rola)

Located in PARIS, FR

Provenance: Frédérique Tison, Château de Chassy (Burgundy-Franche Comté - France) Bibliography: J. Clair, V. Monnier Balthus, catalogue raisonné de l'œuvre complet, Gallimard, Paris 1999 - number D956 reproduced in black and white (page 304) for the recto. Related works (for the recto): • Another preparatory study (pencil on cardboard – 37.7 x 65.7 cm) is listed in the catalogue raisonné as D955 • La Bergerie...

Category

1950s Modern Balthus (Balthasar Klossowski de Rola) Paintings

Materials

Paper, Ink

Balthus (Balthasar Klossowski de Rola) Study for "Getting up" – 1955, a preparatory drawing by Balthus (1908 -2001), 1955

Sold

H 34.85 in W 29.93 in

Study for "Getting up" – 1955, a preparatory drawing by Balthus (1908 -2001)

By Balthus (Balthasar Klossowski de Rola)

Located in PARIS, FR

In 1955, as he was residing at the Château de Chassy in the Morvan for two years, Balthus created a large painting entitled "Getting up". Balthus was inspired for this painting by t...

Category

1950s Modern Balthus (Balthasar Klossowski de Rola) Paintings

Materials

Watercolor, Pencil

Balthus (balthasar Klossowski De Rola) paintings for sale on 1stDibs.

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