Who was Dina Vierny, Aristide Maillol's muse?

Do you know Dina Vierny? Known as the model for Aristide Maillol's "The Quest for Harmony" Dina Vierny is a true icon of the art world. Museum TV profiles this multifaceted woman, who was not only a model but also an art collector and dealer.

The encounter

Dina Vierny was a true muse for Aristide Maillol. She was also a gallery owner and collector of modern art. Her birth name was Dina Aïbinder, and she was born in Chisinau, Moldavia on January 25, 1919. In 1925, her family relocated to Paris, specifically on rue Monge. Dina Vierny was an exceptional student, mastering French quickly.

She formed friendships with musicians, architects, and artists in Paris. Among them, Jean-Claude Dondel, who happened to be a close friend of Aristide Maillol.

The future creator of the Musée d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris, Jean-Claude Dondel, once mentioned to Maillol that he had encountered a young woman who bore a resemblance to his sculptures. The artist from the south of France wrote to Dina. He said: "Mademoiselle, I have heard that you resemble a Maillol and a Renoir. I would be satisfied with a Renoir." A few weeks later, the young teenager agreed to come and pose for simple portraits every Thursday and Sunday.

Art collector and dealer

In 1938, Dina Aïbinder officially became Dina Vierny through her marriage to Sacha Vierny, who would later become the chief cameraman for film director Alain Resnais. Two years after their marriage, Dina visited Aristide Maillol and his wife, Clotilde, in Banyuls. It was during this period that the young woman posed for and served as inspiration for several of Aristide Maillol's paintings, including "La Baigneuse drapée" (The Draped Bather), "La Montagne" (The Mountain), "La Rivière" (The River), and "L'Air" (The Air). She became a true muse for the sculptor and posed for his future masterpiece, "L'Harmonie" (Harmony). Unfortunately, Aristide Maillol passed away on September 27, 1944, leaving the sculpture unfinished.

On her own artistic journey, Dina became an avid art collector, acquiring numerous paintings by renowned artists such as Picasso, Kandinsky, Dufy, Doucet, and others. Recognizing the importance of preserving her collections, she established the Dina-Vierny Foundation, which was inaugurated in 1995. This foundation stands as a testament to her passion for art and serves to safeguard her remarkable artistic heritage. Sadly, Dina Vierny passed away on January 20, 2009, at the age of 89, leaving behind a rare and incomparable artistic legacy.

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