ROBERT DE MONTESQUIOU (1855-1921) - Lot 278

ROBERT DE MONTESQUIOU (1855-1921) ROBERT DE MONTESQUIOU (1855-1921) Pendule de Pensées Polychrome decorated clock with gilt bronze mounts, depicting pansy flowers all over Inscribed on the front "ces pensées dépensées à penser à vos pensers dans les leurres de vos heures presses si vous y pensez"; and on the back "Robert de Montesquiou, pendule de pensée" H: 49 x W: 28.5 x D: 15.5 cm Provenance: aristocratic collection Born in Paris in 1855, Count Robert de Montesquiou Fezensac is a man of letters, poet, art and literature critic. He served as a model for des Esseintes in the novel "A rebours" by Huysmans and for "Monsieur de Phocas" by Jean Lorrain. He also inspired Marcel Proust for one of the Baron de Charlus models in "A la recherche du temps perdu". Friend of the Countess Greffulhe, of Princess Bibesco, Sarah Bernhardt, Gustave Moreau and Gabriele d'Annunzio, he is nicknamed "The poet and insolent Dandy". Giovanni Boldini and James Abbott Whistler made his portrait. It is also known for his good words, such as "what characterizes the upstarts is that not only do they hardly arrive, but they do not leave ".