Serenade
by Francis Delivré

Acrylic, vinyl, and felt on canvas-backed board
21×29,5cm

In this small, spontaneously executed painting, DELIVRÉ once again plays with forms and wordplay, as seen in these two swans that have become saxophones—or these two saxophones that have become swans! Greek mythology tells of the marvelous and tragic song of the “swan of Apollo,” the god of music, beauty, and poetry. Centuries later, Franz Schubert composed this musical declaration of love, set “in the moonlight” (“In des Mondes Licht”), in his final lied, part of his “Swan Song,” “Schwanengesang.” And 100 years later, the five members of the rhythm and blues group “The Platters” reinterpreted this German lyricism and romanticism under the title “My Serenade.”