ADOLPHE BRACONY (ACTIVE IN PARIS DURING THE 19TH CENTURY) AFTER EUSTACHE LE SUEUR | Noli Me Tangere

signed and inscribed lower left: 'ABracony. D'après LESUEUR.' / 'Musée de LOUVRE' ('AB' in ligature)inscribed by the artist on the reverse of the stretcher: 'ABracony Peintre 9 rue de Calais Paris' oil on canvas, unframed This composition is based on a painting by the 17th-century French artist Eustache Le Sueur, today in the Musée du Louvre, Paris (inv. no. 8018), datable to 'circa' 1651.1 Le Sueur was one of the founders of the French Academy of Painting, and was known primarily for his religious subjects. 'Noli me tangere' is the Latin version of a phrase spoken, according to John 20:17, by Christ to Mary Magdalen when she recognised Him after His Resurrection. 1 http://www2.culture.gouv.fr/public/mistral/joconde_fr?ACTION=RETROUVER&FIELD_1=DOMN&VALUE_1=&FIELD_2=Ctyob&VALUE_2=&FIELD_3=AUTR&VALUE_3=%27LESUEUR%20EUSTACHE%27&FIELD_4=Clieu&VALUE_4=&FIELD_5=REPR&VALUE_5=&FIELD_6=Cdate&VALUE_6=&FIELD_7=DECV&VALUE_7=&FIELD_8=LOCA&VALUE_8=&FIELD_9=Mat%e9riaux%2ftechniques&VALUE_9=&FIELD_10=Titre&VALUE_10=&NUMBER=160&GRP=0&REQ=%28%28%27LESUEUR%20EUSTACHE%27%29%20%3aAUTR%20%29&USRNAME=nobody&USRPWD=4%24%2534P&SPEC=5&SYN=1&IMLY=&MAX1=1&MAX2=1&MAX3=200&DOM=All

All paintings available to view at the Sotheby’s Greenford Park warehouse, 5 - 7 and 10 – 13 September (10 - 4pm), by appointment. The canvas has a firm relining, the paint surface is slightly dirty and the varnish slightly discoloured. Inspection under ultraviolet light reveals an area of retouching in the sky and landscape left of the wooden gate measuring all together approx. 30 x 14 cm. at the widest point. There is also retouching along the left-hand margin, scattered retouchings in Mary Magdalen's blue robe, including a 'C' shaped damage just below her sleeve, and in her outstretched hand, in the foreground around Christ's feet, to a horizontal damage to the left of the base of his cloak measuring 14.5 x 5 cm., to a fine horizontal scratch in the centre of his cloak measuring 9.5 cm., and to an area in his chest measuring 9 x 3 cm.
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