Artwork CollectionsBeyond the heritage

Beyond the heritage of Marcestel’s talent and mastery of color and techniques, he leaves us a huge collection of creation. His favorite themes, in addition to mythology, are those of the creation of worlds, nature and elementary materials, as well as universal Love which he illustrates through the human figure, the bouquet or in free and abstract compositions.
The collections present the main themes of his pictural productions, the sculptural series of Bronze, glass or ceramics, but also his original creations of silk and fashion design.

Pictural productionOil paintings, watercolors, silk, and other media

Mastering multiple painting and sculptural techniques, he was especially adept in colour and oil painting. His style, a subtle blend of pictorial substance, borrows the osmosis and fluidity of hues from Japanese sumi-e inks that he observed in the 1970s.

Marcestel’s inspiration derived from his own relationship with nature, but also from the historical and cultural links of the Japan-China-Korea triangle. Marcestel focused his creative output on mythology and origin of the world, but he also paint many other subject as Love betweens beings, bouquet, landscape or abstractions.

Cosmos and Univers

Nature and elements

Japanese Mythology

Japanese Mythology large format

Chinese Mythology

Bouquet

Landscape

Silk

Watercolors and other techniques

Marcestel Last unfinished paintings

A serie that illustrate the genesis of the universe and the cosmogony of our world. Oftenly abstract and expressive composition, Marcestel integrated some figures. In this series, he illustrate the universal questions : who are we and where are we coming from ?

Marcestel's painting representing univers

Marcestel's painting representing elements.

This series complement the Cosmos series by the creation of the elements that compose our world. Marcestel illustrate the birth of Fire, Water, Air and Earth, but he also compose large expressive stories of natural composant like Light, Shadows, Mountains, islands. This series bring his creation very near from the illustration of Mythologic theme.

Marcestel's large painting on 2 panels, representing nature.

Marcestel's painting representing japanese mythology.

Marcestel focused his creative output on mythology and origin of the world. In Japan, he illustrated the major events of the Kojiki, the collection of myths of origins which inspired some of the beliefs of Shintoism. Several theme as been dipected from Izanagi & Izanami; Amaterasu, Tsukiyomi and Susanoo; Okuninushi; Jimutenno or Jingukougo.

Marcestel's large painting in 4 pieces, representing japanese mythology.

The large format works of Marcestel’s are some of the masterpieces. From 200×150 cm, certain artworks are 700 cm long. These formats gave to Marcestel the full opportunity to express himself and let the colors compose his favorite theme.

Marcestel works on the three mythologies of Japan China and Korea. A large production of Chinese mythology is now in the permanent collection of the Tempo Museum in Beijin.

Marcestel' painting representing a bouquet of flowers.

One of the main theme depicted by Marcestel is Love between beings. For Marcestel, the bouquet is the natural expression of love, but not only, it’s a way enter in a romantic and sometime nostalgic or melancholy story.

Marcestel' painting representing a bouquet of multicolors flowers.

Marcestel's painting representing french riviera and Estel Hotel where he grown.

The landscape is the main expression of the beauty of the nature. Initially inspired by the French Riviera, he painted several themes of landscape from scenes of Venise to the Mount Fuji in Japan.

Marcestel's painting representing a woman walking with Fuji-san behind her.

Marcestel produced his own printed silk in Italy in the most prestigious brand RATTI.
He composed and painted on his silk some original themes.

Marcestel using other techniques than oil like this painting.

Marcestel was mainly using Oil painting, but several original pieces has been produced by watercolors, acrylics, gouaches or even etchings, scketches… The breadth of its techniquesis very large.

The unfinished last painting made by Marcestel few days before his death.

Over 80 years old and until the last days of his life, Marcestel was still producing new piece of art. A series of 8 paintings are considered to be his last and unfinished paintings left in his atelier in the beginning of April 2023.

One of the 8 painting considered like his last and unfinished paintings.

Sculptural productionBronze, glass, ceramics, and lacquers

Marcestel was mastering several techniques of creation. He applicated his pictural style to three dimensional productions. He produced Glasses in the best atelier of Venise. He went in the most famous ceramic’s atelier of Japan and China, collaborate sometimes with famous and iconic masters.
His collection of objects and sculptures are composed by hundreds of creations.

Bronze

Glass

Ceramics

Wood and Lacquers

Folding Screens

Marcestel sculpture representing izanagi to izanami will be presented during the event MARCESTEL Memorial Exhibition - 50 years of creation and the last works.

In 1994, Marcestel created a serie of bronze, produced in a 15th century kiln in Ayutthaya, Thailand. The collections contain only few of his remaining production.

Marcestel sculpture representing a woman on a bird.

From 1991, Marcestel transposes his style developed on silk to glass work for the first time.He works in collaboration with the artist Jean-Carlo Signoretto de Murano and the Francoise Cortese workshop. The last creation of glasses was produced by Marcestel in Venise in December 2022 at the age of 89, in a collaboration with Jean-Carlo Signoretto.

Marcestel was producing ceramics in different style in the most famous atelier of Japan and China.

These series has been produced in collaboration with lacquers from 2006 to 2012.

Marcestel was producing painting folding screens.

Marcestel painted folding screen with two japanese women wearing kimono walking in nature.

Silk and FashionKimono, Scarf, Dress, Neck tie and design production

from 1977, Marcestel Began to create a serie of limited edition painted silk at Ratti in Como, (Italy). These silks have been chosen by famoust French, American and Japanese fashion designers such as Pierre Cardin, Pierre Balmain, Guy Laroche, Hanae Mori, Cynthia Bardes, for their Haute Couture collections.
He also produced and hand painted on Japanese traditional Kimono and obi, as well as he produced industrial materials.

Kimono and Obi

Silk dress and fashion design

Scarf and neck tie

Actual collaborations

Fashion Product and projects

Detail of kimono made with silk painted by Marcestel.

Only few pieces of Kimono and Obi has been hand painted by Marcestel. All thes product are on private collections.

Detail of kimono obi made with silk painted by Marcestel.

Press advertising for women cloth and scarf made with silk painted by Marcestel.

Even if Marcestel worked with famous designer, he produced his own collections under the brand Marcestel.

Scarf and neck tie produced under Marcestel brand are still available.

Few weeks before his passing, Marcestel meets the fashion designer Tazuko Noguchi and from a talk to eventual collaboration, Marcestel collections engage a collaboration to create a series of 3 traditional kimonos to present in homage to the artist in the October 2023’s ceremonies.

Woman hand bag illustrated by Marcestel painting.

Marcestel made several production designed with his own artwork.

Fashion box decorated by Marcestel painting.

BooksA rich collection

Marcestel published several books, catalogues and other publications, but the books he always kept as the main publications was his fist monography, “Eternity and Love”, and “Nature and Love” published in 1985 and 1989; “Japanese Mythology”, published in 2006 in seven languages; and the series of the 4 books relating the donations “Japanese mythology, On the path to love”…

Main publications :

1985 – Eternity & Love
1989 – Nature & Love
2006 – Japanese Mythology by Marcestel
2008 – Exhibition catalogue of the Ueno Royal Museum
2010 – Chinese Mythology
2011 – Miurart Museum catalogue
2013 – Auspicious China
2015 – Exhibition catalogue of Kyushu National Museum
2015 – Japanese mythology (for children)
2015 – Japanese mythology, On the path to love (Volume 1)
2017 – Japanese mythology, On the path to love (Volume 2)
2018 – Marcestel – Artworks, Publication & Biography
2023 – Marcestel, The complete Biography

Eternity and Love and Nature and Love

Japanese Mythology by Marcestel

Japanese Mythology

Japanese Mythology On the path to love collaborations

« Auspicious China » Published by the Tempo Museum

Marcestel, The complete Biography, 1943 to 2023

The two first Monography and work collection « Eternity and Love » (1985) and « Nature and Love » (1989) that contain each over 500 artworks and themes like « Love of a lonely human being », « Two people’s ties », « Family », « Memories of a young age », or « Water », « Forest », « Nature », « Music », « Love » and « Flowers ».

Picture of the interior of Marecestel's book "Japanese Mythology".

Book retracing the great scenes of mythology and the birth of Japan.
From the creation of the world and over several divine generations, the myths painted by marcestel retrace the stories of Izanagi and Izanami, Amaterasu, Susano or Okuninushi.

Cover of Marcestel's book "Japanese Mythology".

Cover of Marcestel's book "Japanese Mytologhy (for kids)".

Book for children on 11 volumes retracing the great scenes of mythology and the birth of Japan.
From the creation of the world and over several divine generations, the myths painted by marcestel retrace the stories of Izanagi and Izanami, Amaterasu,
Susano or Okuninushi.

Details of Marcestel's books "Japanese Mythology (for kids)".

View of 4 Marcestel's books presenting all the donations he made to japanese shrine.

Kyushu & Okinawa
Chugoku& Shikoku
Kinki
Chubu – Kanto – Tohoku – Hokkaido

Book in 4 volumes presenting all the donations made by Marcestel in Shinto shrines.
This book allows you to browse the most famous shrines of Japan, but also through the works of Marcestel, to understand the mythologies associated to them. The two last book are still under production.

Presentation of Marcestel's books presenting all the donations he made.

Presentation of Marcestel's book "Auspicious China" published by the Tempo Museum.

The full Marcestel Monography of the Tempo Museum Permanent collections. It contains over 200 Chinese mythology Oil painting but also a large collection of Ceramics.

Picture of the interior of Marcestel's book "Auspicious China" published by the Tempo Museum.

Marcestel’s Life was a kind of unique and incredible journey. From his yougness in the hotel Cap Estel in the French Riviera, to his live in Asia and Japan, he could meet and be friends with several celebrities and members of Royal and Imperial Families, and present his work in worldwide exhibitions.
This book has been prepared by Marcestel Himself accumulating images and texte for many years. This version has been prepared by Sebastien Lebègue in march 2023, and the last adjustment has been made with Marcestel just 4 days before his attack. Satisfied to see his own life detailed on paper, he unfortunately couldn’t see the edited version.
It has been published by Marcestel Collections.

Learn moreAbout Marcestel Collections

Mastering multiple painting and sculptural techniques, Marcestel illustrated the major events of the Japanese Mythology.

Discover Marcestel biography

Marcestel portrait during a donation ceremony. Meiji Jingu shrine Tokyo. 2009.

Marcestel made a long series of donations, currently totalling over 200 to some of the most important shrines of Japan.

Learn more about donations

Visual of Marcestel Collections event, Tribute to the master of colors.

A series of three events has been organized to pay homage to Marcestel in a peaceful, harmonious gathering.

Learn more about this event

View of several Marcestel's bouquets painting in his atelier.

Marcestel Collections is the legal entity which inventories, manages, protects all of Marcestel’s works and more.

More about Marcestel Collections

Question ? Contact Marcestel Collections, the legal entity which inventories, manages and protects all of Marcestel’s works and copyrights.

Contact Marcestel Collections