Robert Dallet
French artist Robert Dallet was born in 1923, growing up with a fascination for nature and animals. As a young man, he spent hours at zoos and museums studying animal behavior and anatomy. He began working for various nature magazines before illustrating a number of books on wildlife from around the globe. His art was exhibited in museums, where, in 1985, Jean-Louis Dumas asked him to design a scarf.
Kenya was issued in 1988, and for the next 20+ years Dallet's realistic animals regularly graced Hermes scarves, apparel and homegoods. He is credited with scarf designs well beyond his passing in 2006 (ie, Tendresse Feline and Panthera Pardus which were issued in 2016).
While his illustrations covered all manner of fauna, he is most well-known for his drawings of big cats. In 2016, Hermes co-edited the hardcover book Fierce and Fragile: Big Cats in the Art of Robert Dallet, featuring a previously unpublished selection of watercolors and sketches, and includes writer Nadine Coleno's take on the partnership between the artist and Hermes. The book is available at Hermes boutiques and on their website, as well as online booksellers.
Kenya was issued in 1988, and for the next 20+ years Dallet's realistic animals regularly graced Hermes scarves, apparel and homegoods. He is credited with scarf designs well beyond his passing in 2006 (ie, Tendresse Feline and Panthera Pardus which were issued in 2016).
While his illustrations covered all manner of fauna, he is most well-known for his drawings of big cats. In 2016, Hermes co-edited the hardcover book Fierce and Fragile: Big Cats in the Art of Robert Dallet, featuring a previously unpublished selection of watercolors and sketches, and includes writer Nadine Coleno's take on the partnership between the artist and Hermes. The book is available at Hermes boutiques and on their website, as well as online booksellers.