Ferdinand Bac (1859-1952) - Primavera

This original illustration is titled “Primavera” and was created by the famous French draughtsman and writer Ferdinand Bac (Ferdinand-Sigismond Bach, 1859-1952).
The drawing depicts three women draped in dresses of classical and romantic inspiration, evoking spring. The woman on the right carries a basket of flowers, while the one in the middle holds a delicate rose.

Ferdinand Bac was a quintessential figure of Parisian life during the Belle Époque, particularly known for his caricatures, fashion illustrations, social chronicle pieces, and his achievements as a landscape designer and architect (notably the famous Villa Les Colombières in Menton).

He signs distinctly as “Ferdinand Bac” and not as “Bach,” his birth surname (he was the grand-nephew of Napoleon I). At this period of his life, this pseudonym was a signature recognized in Parisian social, literary, and artistic circles.

The card affixed to the back of the drawing is an autograph dedication signed by Ferdinand Bac, handwritten on a card or heavy paper. It provides a direct and personal illumination on the provenance of the previous work (Primavera), its recipients, and the precise place where it was conceived.
The card is addressed to Mr. and Mrs. Piche Gennari. Pierre Gennari was a publisher, writer, and a great art collector who maintained very close friendship ties with Ferdinand Bac toward the end of his life. This dedication testifies to the artist’s social and affectionate relationships, as he liked to offer personalized drawings to his friends and patrons;
Ferdinand Bac mentions his stay “à la Faisanderie.” Located in the forest of Compiègne, the Faisanderie is a former royal and imperial site (developed successively by Louis XIV, Louis XV, and Napoleon I) that housed at that time a social project and residences.

The date of July 6, 1939 is crucial. It perfectly matches the date inscribed on the Primavera drawing (1939). This card most likely serves as a note of sending or an accompanying message affixed to the back (or joined) to the illustration of the Three Graces. It confirms beyond any doubt that the drawing was created and offered just before the outbreak of the war, as a gesture of gratitude and friendship during his stay in Compiègne;

The label formally indicates that the Primavera drawing originally belonged to Ferdinand Bac’s personal collection or workshop fonds before being offered.
The artist had his own stamps to mark and inventory his works, his study drawings, or the pieces he kept in his portfolios. The old-style Art Deco uppercase typography is entirely characteristic of labels from this period.

1. The drawing originally forms part of the Ferdinand Bac Collection (marked by the label).
2. The artist then decides to part with it to give it to his friends, the Gennaris.
3. He writes the note dated July 6, 1939 and affixes it on the back beside his workshop label to seal the gift.