- 5
Jacques Stella
Estimate
30,000 - 40,000 USD
bidding is closed
Description
- Jacques Stella
- Judith with the head of Holofernes
- oil on slate
Provenance
Anonymous sale, London, Christie's, 7 April 1995, lot 49 (as by Jacopo Ligozzi);
With Rafael Valls, London;
With Danny Katz, London;
From whom purchased by a private collector;
By whom sold ("Property from a Distinguished Private Collection"), New York, Sotheby's, 28 January 2005, lot 274 (as by Jacopo Ligozzi);
There purchased by the present owner.
With Rafael Valls, London;
With Danny Katz, London;
From whom purchased by a private collector;
By whom sold ("Property from a Distinguished Private Collection"), New York, Sotheby's, 28 January 2005, lot 274 (as by Jacopo Ligozzi);
There purchased by the present owner.
Exhibited
Fort Worth, Kimbell Art Museum, From the Private Collections of Texas, 22 November 2009 - 21 March 2010, no. 19
Literature
S. Laveissière, Jacques Stella, exhibition catalogue, Lyon 2006, p. 98;
R. Brettell and C.D. Dickerson, From the Private Collections of Texas, exhibition catalogue, Fort Worth 2009, pp. 148-150, cat. no 19, reproduced.
R. Brettell and C.D. Dickerson, From the Private Collections of Texas, exhibition catalogue, Fort Worth 2009, pp. 148-150, cat. no 19, reproduced.
Condition
This work is very finely painted on slate. the details are very well preserved, colors are vivid and the gold highlights remain beautiful. there are two very small scratches to the slate in background above Judith's head. examination under UV shows small retouches in figure of Judith and one in upper slate background. painting can be hung in its present state.
Offered in a 16th century pastiglia frame (uncut).
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.
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.
Catalogue Note
When this painting was first offered for sale in 1995 (see Provenance), Terence Mullaly attributed the work to Ligozzi, suggesting a date early in the artist's career, before 1577, when Ligozzi left Verona for Florence. In 2006, however, Sylvain Laveissière suggested the work to be by the hand of Jacques Stella and, in 2009, C.D. Dickerson published the painting as conclusively by Stella (see Exhibited and Literature), further developing Laveissière’s ideas. He points towards the striking similarity of both the costumes and facial features seen here to those found in other Stella compositions and also observes that Stella painted many small works on slate while living in Rome in the early 17th century. Stella's decision to depict Judith not only after the act of violence in which she slays Holofernes, but also with such a serene expression, is a noticeable departure from Caravaggio's influential approach to this subject and exemplifies Stella's commitment to portray non-traditional subject matter.