WILLIAM BOUGUEREAU | Le voeu

Sale: Christie's, Paris, March 29, 2012, lot 187, illustrated (as Mother and child praying and subsidiary study of hand and seated child)
Acquired at the above sale 

Marius Vachon, W. Bouguereau, Paris, 1900, p. 123, illustrated 

Pencil on paper. This work is a working drawing from the artist's studio. The sheet is hinged to the mat in two places along the right edge. There is a slight wave to the paper with scattered creasing due to handling. The upper and left edges are irregular, which is likely inherent to the sheet. There is toning and spotted discoloration throughout.
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 beautifully rendered drawing, which until 2012 was known only from its illustration in Marius Vachon’s W. Bouguereau (published in 1900), captures the tender embrace of the Enfant malade (1867, Philadelphia Museum of Art, also known as The Thank Offering). The background is left unrealized and small details, such as the chair leg, are not fully executed. Bouguereau’s focus is on the figural details, as evidenced by the quickly rendered hand study at upper left, the attention to the faces and especially the mother’s hands.