Paul Sordes Explained

Paul Sordes (9 February 1877 – 20 May 1937) was a French painter from Paris and set designer^[1] who was an original member of Les Apaches, a group of artists in early 20th-century Paris whose most famous member was Maurice Ravel.^[2] It was at Sordes' studio home at 39 rue Dulong above Montmartre that the group regularly met on Saturdays.^[3] In fact, the first meeting of the group occurred at his studio in either June 1902^[4] or May 1903.^[5]

Around 1900, Tristan Klingsor first met Sordes at the Salon des Indépendants in Paris, where he was impressed by Sordes' drawings and watercolors.^[6]

Klingsor called him une sorte de Ravel de la palette in an obituary, and Ravel dedicated Une barque sur l'océan from the piano suite Miroirs to him.

His brother Charles Sordes was also a member of Les Apaches.^[3]

Notes and References

1. Book: Hess. Carol A.. Manuel de Falla and Modernism in Spain, 1898-1936. 2001. University of Chicago Press. 9780226330389. 32. 4 August 2017. en.
2. Book: Chimènes. Myriam. Mécènes et musiciens: du salon au concert à Paris sous la IIIe République. 2004. Fayard. 358. 9782213616964. 4 August 2017. fr.
3. Book: Goss. Madeleine. Bolero - The Life of Maurice Ravel. 2013. Read Books Ltd. 9781447485797. 64–65. 4 August 2017. en.
4. Book: Rodriguez. Philippe. Maurice Delage, ou, La solitude de l'artisan. 2001. Editions Papillon. 9782940310081. 15. 5 August 2017. fr.
5. Book: Nichols. Roger. Ravel. 2011. Yale University Press. 978-0300108828. 43. registration. 4 August 2017. en.
6. Cipa Godebski et les Apaches. Revue belge de musicologie. 2006. 60. 259. 4 August 2017. Société belge de musicologie. fr.