PARIS.- La Biennale Paris 2017 will be exhibited at the historic Grand Palais from September 11 to 17, marking the launch of the annual presentation of this renowned international fair. A unique celebration of the French art de vivre, La Biennale Paris has been exhibiting the finest works from some of the world’s most impressive galleries, antique dealers and jewelers for more than 50 years.

The fair is overseen by the Biennale Commission, under the new leadership of Christopher Forbes. The Commission also includes six ex-officio members of the Board of the National Federation of Antique Dealers (SNA).

Commenting on his new role, Forbes said, “The Paris Biennale is the most important fair of its kind in France, and one of the greatest in the world, alongside TEFAF Maastricht and the Winter Show in New York. To follow in the wake of Henri Loyrette, whom I admire deeply, is at once a privilege and an honor. I am committed to maintaining the level of excellence established by my eminent predecessors and look forward to being part of transforming this Biennale into the most brilliant edition that has ever taken place.”

Mathias Ary Jan, President of the SNA, said, “We are thrilled to welcome Christopher Forbes as the Biennale President. He is a fantastic ambassador, a lover of France and of the arts and an important collector. The collector—an essential figure for artistic creation, for the market, and for art history—is at the very heart of the Biennale and its development.”

To date, 93 confirmed exhibitors, including 31 from outside France, will assemble a spectacular array of highly coveted and diverse masterpieces including fine jewelry, tapestries, furniture, masks, sculptures, paintings and drawings. The full exhibitor list is below. Highlights will include:

• Pablo Picasso’s Anthropomorphic Landscape that features a hidden profile of a man, presented by Hélène Bailly Gallery;

• four 17th century tapestries woven with gold, created for Louis XIV’s Minister, Jean-Baptiste Colbert, brought by Galerie Chevalier;

• a 6000-year-old marble female statuette from the Mediterranean region shown by Kevorkian Gallery;

• a latticework ruby necklace and earring set featuring more than 100.5 carats of diamonds and more than 39.5 carats of rubies designed and displayed by Indian diamantaire Nirav Modi;

• Gustave Loiseau’s Le Vaudreuil en été, that studies seasons in the tradition of Impressionists, coming directly from the descendants of the artist and shown by Galerie Delvaille;

• a rare Weiner Werkstätte Workshop ring, an intricate weave of delicate gold and freshwater pearls, showcasing magnificent craftsmanship and produced just once, displayed by Viennese gallery Kunsthammer; and

• an award-winning 18 carat rose-gold watch, with more than 380 parts and independently moving, illuminated numbers, designed and presented by Swiss watch manufacturer DeWitt, founded by a direct descendent of Napoleon Bonaparte I.

The Barbier-Mueller Collections: 110 years of passion
The Biennale will also feature the Barbier-Mueller Collection, with works from four generations of art collectors assembled in honor of Jean Paul Barbier-Mueller. The extensive collection will include the display of a Samurai helmet, a royal stool given from Bamum Sultan Ibrahim Njoya to German Captain Hans Glauning, Jeff Koons’ Woman in Tub, Elisabeth Vigée Le Brun’s Lady Hamilton as Sybille of Cumes and a selection of masks, including one which was previously thought to have inspired Picasso’s Demoiselles d’Avignon. The family will also showcase works that have never before been available to the public.