As we celebrate the centenary of Villa Noailles, the iconic modernist home of Charles and Marie-Laure de Noailles, art patrons who played a crucial role in the development of 20th-century French art, we delve into the festivities that mark this historic milestone. Chanel recently hosted a musical performance in Paris to honor the event, emphasizing the continued importance of art patronage and the legacy left behind by the Noailles.
On the centenary of Villa Noailles, Chanel paid tribute to the modernist home’s art patron founders, Charles and Marie-Laure de Noailles, by hosting a musical performance at the 7L library in Paris. This unique space, once the photo studio of legendary designer Karl Lagerfeld, provided a fitting backdrop to showcase the upcoming opera “Ressusciter la Rose”. Conceived by Jean-Pierre Blanc, director of the Villa Noailles and founder of the Hyères International Festival of Fashion, Photography, and Accessories, the opera exemplifies the artistic spirit that the Noailles cultivated.
Bruno Pavlovsky, president of fashion and president of Chanel SAS, remarked, “The place where we are tonight is unique… It reflects its creator’s immense culture and insatiable curiosity for all the arts, including music, song, architecture, design, and dance.”. The performance featured French singer Camélia Jordana and acrobats from the Wonsembe troupe, dressed in white costumes by artist Jacques Merle and embroidered by Montex, a workshop owned by Chanel.
The centenary celebrations extend beyond this performance, with satellite events in Paris, Hyères, and Marseille, including a documentary film by Karim Zeriahen and an exhibition dedicated to Marie-Laure de Noailles’ wardrobe. Jean-Pierre Blanc told WWD, “If people still talk about the Noailles today, it’s because they played a huge part in our country’s artistic activity in the early 20th century… They supported these artists not just for one-off events, but almost their whole lives, by providing for them financially and nurturing their artistic endeavors, and that is really exceptional.”.
The Villa Noailles, designed by architect Robert Mallet-Stevens, hosted renowned artists such as Man Ray, Luis Buñuel, Salvador Dalí, and Jean Cocteau. Lagerfeld, who published a book of photographs of the villa and served as the artistic director of the Hyères Festival, was fascinated by the Noailles’ patronage. Chanel’s sponsorship of the centenary celebrations further emphasizes the brand’s commitment to the arts and the longstanding relationship between the Noailles and Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel.
The Villa Noailles centenary has also inspired various galleries and institutions to launch teaser events, including screenings of Man Ray’s 1929 film “Les Mystères du Château de Dé” at the India Mahdavi gallery, and exhibits of Marie-Laure de Noailles’ photographs by Willy Maywald and François-Marie Banier at the Galerie du Passage. As the Villa Noailles prepares for another round of renovations, the legacy of Charles and Marie-Laure de Noailles and their impact on the art world continue to inspire and shape the cultural landscape.