This “Allegory” was commissioned by Edmond Gillet (1873-1931), a notable Lyonnais figure who supported the creation of the Lyon School of Chemistry and the development of Rhône-Poulenc. The painting was sold (in the 1970s) to a member of the Pechiney group.
The city of Lyon, where the Fourvière Basilica can be seen, as well as numerous industrial smokestacks, is the setting of this pyramid-shaped composition, featuring a female chemist looking at a balloon. On her knees is a chemistry notebook; to her left, a laboratory and skeins of dyed silk; to her right, a cloth and color mixer. At her feet are symbolic objects such as a wooden box, a globe evoking the silk trade; two caduceus, symbols of the Lyon Medical School and Gillet’s support of it; as well as a mine entrance, a lantern, and miner’s picks, referring to the extraction of coloring pigments. In spite of its dark color scheme, the composition exudes warm amber tones.
This allegory, a celebration of dyeing techniques, represents a tribute to Gillet for his contributions to the city of Lyon, more than a representation of the alchemy of colors.