Jean-Baptiste Greuze

With Wildenstein, London, from whom acquired.

London, Wildenstein, Important French Paintings of the XVIIIth Century, 1956, no. 30;
Folkestone, New Metropole Arts Centre (according to a label on the reverse).

The following condition report is provided by Hamish Dewar who is an external specialist and not an employee of Sotheby's: The canvas appears lined. The paint surface has an even and discoloured varnish layer. There is a pattern of craquelure throughout the composition which appears stable. There are some very small scattered paint losses. Inspection under ultra-violet light shows an opaque and discoloured varnish layer and some scattered retouchings. Overall the painting is in good condition. The work is framed.
"This lot is offered for sale subject to Sotheby's Conditions of Business, which are available on request and printed in Sotheby's sale catalogues. The independent reports contained in this document are provided for prospective bidders' information only and without warranty by Sotheby's or the Seller."

This unpublished painting would appear to represent a betrothal portrait of a young girl who is perhaps engaged, or of marriageable age, indicated by the garland of white flowers in her hair and the orange she holds - a symbol of love and marriage. Greuze produced a number of other paintings depicting figures holding fruit, such as Child with an apple at the National Gallery, London.¹ The present work most closely resembles a painting of comparable design and style of an unknown young woman, once thought to be the artist's daughter, which was sold New York, Sotheby's, 22 January 2004, lot 213.¹ We are grateful to Alastair Laing for suggesting that both these paintings most probably date to around the 1780s. 

1. Inv. no. NG1020. 
2. Ex-Stroganoff collection, and subsequently owned by Fine Art Montparnasse, New York and Connecticut. Another version of this portrait, from the estates of the comtesse de La Rochefoucauld and Suzanne Romain, was sold Nice, Hotel Plaza, 26 November 2000.