Maurice Leloir 1853–1940
Maurice Leloir was a prominent figure renowned for his talents as a painter, illustrator, costume historian and collector.
In the 1890s Leloir and his students produced numerous illustrations inspired by photographs, faithfully depicting the costumes and postures of the past. He illustrated works by Molière, Marivaux, Rousseau and Dumas, among others. In 1907 he founded the Society for the History of Costume, which he chaired until his death.
His expertise in historical costumes led him to collaborate with the film industry: in 1928, at the invitation of Douglas Fairbanks, he traveled to Hollywood to design sets and costumes for the film The Iron Mask. He recounted this experience in his memoir Five Months in Hollywood with Douglas Fairbanks.
Maurice Leloir passed away on October 7, 1940, in Paris, leaving behind a rich and diverse body of work that reflects his passion for history and the art of costume.
Vivant Beaucé 1818–1876
Vivant Beaucé was a French painter, draftsman and illustrator who was active in the 19th century. He contributed illustrations to several notable literary works. In 1846 he worked on the first edition of Alexandre Dumas’ The Three Musketeers, providing drawings engraved by Adolphe Gusman. Although sometimes confused with Jean-Adolphe Beaucé, another illustrator from the same period, there is no known family connection between them. Vivant Beaucé’s work remains a valuable testimony to 19th-century illustration art.
