A leader among l’Esprit
Moderne movement that emerged in Paris in the wake of World War I, Fernand
Léger sought out opportunities to integrate
his paintings with contemporary design and architecture, both in Europe and the
United States. In 1938 he was introduced to Nelson Rockefeller, who
invited Léger to decorate his Park Avenue
apartment. This fireplace mural was installed in Rockefeller’s grand salon, where
it faced a similarly shaped mural by Henri Matisse. Taking inspiration from the
urban grid and gardens of the recently completed Rockefeller Center, Léger
animates his landscape with a vibrant buoyancy, celebrating the modern spirit
embodied by New York’s newest landmark.