Edouard Moyse

Max Cottin, New York, by the late 1950s
Thence by descent

The canvas has been relined. There is a dirty varnish over the work and some remnants of gold paint on the surafce in the upper left corner. Along the top edge, there are also areas where the edge of the original canvas is visble over the relining. Under UV, there are a few minor scattered spots of inpainting along the left and right edges.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Edouard Moyse, along with Alphonse Lévy and Edouard Brandon, was one of the most prominent Jewish artists of the Age of Emancipation in France. With great technical virtuosity, he created images of Jewish life that impressed upon an increasingly secularized culture the nobility and spirituality of their heritage.

In the Synagogue is a fine example of this genre. It is a full and striking composition which carefully balances the importance of the central figure, the Rabbi, within the crowded synagogue interior.  Moyse conveys both a sense of devotion and warmth as the congregants faithfully absorb the Rabbi's teachings.

Moyse was born in Nancy in 1827 and studied under Martin Drolling at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris. He first exhibited at the Paris Salon in 1850 and won a Médaille de Deuxième Classe in 1882.