GASTON LA TOUCHE | La pêche

Goupil & Cie, no. 30060 (acquired in January 1911) 
Kraushaar Galleries, New York (acquired from the above, June 1913) 
Madame Barincou (acquired by 1914) 
Knoedler & Co., New York, no. 14572 (acquired from the above, January 1919) 
Edward Clark Mershon, Saginaw, Michigan (acquired from the above, October 1919) 
Elsie C. Mershon, Saginaw, Michigan (acquired from the above) 
The Toledo Museum of Art (gifted from the above by 1948 and sold, Sotheby's, New York, July 17, 2003, lot 7, illustrated, as In the Garden) 
Private Collection, Dallas 

Henri Frantz, Gaston La Touche 1854-1913, London, 1914, p. 19

Original unlined condition. The work presents well and the colors appear bright. There are faintly visible areas of craquelure on the figure's chest and forehead and at center right; abrasion with minor associated loss in the grass at center left and a through the ribbon of the hat at left; and scattered frame abrasion with some remnants of a gilded frame at the edges. Under UV light: varnish fluoresces green unevenly. Dashes of retouching are visible beneath both of the figure's eyes and with an area of retouching just next to her proper left ear and above her head. There are two lines of inpainting on the figure's skirt and some retouches to both breasts, with an 'X' shape of inpainting to address prior craquelure on the figure's chest. There is an area of dotted inpainting above the signature in the grass and a few isolated retouches near the right lower edge. Broad fluorescence is visible to the left of the signature near the bottom edge and in the upper part of the background. Some additional isolated areas of inpainting to address prior craquelure are visible in the background on the right side of the composition.
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.

This work will be included in the Gaston La Touche catalogue raisonné being prepared by Selina Baring Maclennan and Roy Brindley.