Hermes Goes Wild

Parisian luxury house Hermès and Panthera, a global wild cat conservation organisation, pay homage to artist and naturalist Robert Dallet with an art exhibition titled Fierce and Fragile: Big Cats in the Art of Robert Dallet at the brand’s flagship store in Fort, Mumbai, from 10th December 2016 to 12th January 2017.

Robert Dallet (1923-2006) was a French painter, illustrator, and naturalist who was passionate about nature. He devoted his life to representing the beauty of wildlife, especially cats. French publisher Lito has published several of Dallet’s illustrative works, including Faune d’Afrique, Faune du Nouveau Monde, Faune d’Europe, Faune d’Asie, and Faune d’Australie. In 1988 he collaborated with Hermès to design a scarf inspired by Kenya. This association did not end there; it lasted for two decades and gave the world some popular designs like Équateur, Jungle Love, La trêve de l’eau, Sichuan, Guépards, and Tendresse Féline.

Robert Dallet, artist and naturalist

This latest exhibition, launched at the Bruce Museum in Greenwich, USA, now arrives in Mumbai after taking strategic halts in Milan, Munich, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. From paintings to drawings and sketches, 60 of Dallet’s works will be on display. These artworks feature illustrations of eight big cat species, including a tiger, lion, leopard, cheetah, and jaguar.

This exhibition is Hermès and Panthera’s aim to highlight the beauty of cats through the eyes of Dallet, while raising awareness around their existence and extinction.

Image via Robert Dallet Official Website