« Royère's vision of the vegetal hinged on purity of line. In this he echoes Matisse, who also opted for embodying the idea of the vegetal in stylized forms far removed from actuality, but still utterly focused on line »
Jean Royère, Galerie Jacques Lacoste and Galerie Patrick Seguin, p. 58-59, 2012.


Trait pour Trait draws on the links between works by the decorateur-ensemblier Jean Royere and his artistic contemporaries (from Henri Matisse to Aristide Maillol) exhibited at Galerie Dina Vierny.

Royère’s lesser known works in metal, bare striking resemblance to their working drawings, seemingly lifted directly from the page they were draw. The direct touch of the hand, visible, raw, uncovered, apparent in the pieces is reflected in the selection of works by some of last centuries greatest artists.

Tracing the line between two-dimensional drawing and three-dimensional object, the exhibition explores the the line through the classical themes of the figure, flora as well as geometry and the grid whereby the Royère pieces in black or gold-leaf tubular metal are paired with works rendered in pencil or ink on paper and in bronze. The fluid lines of Matisse and the Liane wall lamp contest with the graphic markings of Kandinsky and Gilioli which reflect the grid of the Croisillon table and chair. The figure is represented in the geometric silhouettes of Couturier and the elegant figures of Maillol which relate to the Ondulation Boule pieces.