PIERRE-AUGUSTE RENOIR | Nature morte aux pommes et mandarines

Ambroise Vollard, Paris (acquired from the artist by 1919)
Galerie Daber, Paris (by 1954)
Private Collection, France (sale: Sotheby Parke-Bernet & Co., London, 31st March 1982, lot 77)
Private Collection, Switzerland (purchased at the above sale; sale: Sotheby's, London, 3rd December 1986, lot 162)
Private Collection, New York (purchased at the above sale)
Gallery Sakai, Tokyo
Acquired from the above by the present owner

Paris, Galerie Alfred Daber, Pour mon plaisir, Tableaux, aquarelles, dessins d'Ingres à Vuillard, 1954, no. 21
New York, Hammer Galleries, Renoir, Paintings from 1870-1914, 1984, illustrated in colour in the catalogue

The canvas is lined. Inspection under UV light reveals a fine line of vertical retouching to the centre right of the composition, between the two oranges (measuring approx. 3.5cm) which possibly corresponds to a repaired tear. There are further small spots of retouching to the left and right edges and tiny scattered spots in the background of the centre of the composition. There are minor losses to the pigment in the extreme upper left corner which are not visible when framed. This work is in overall good condition. Please note the correct estimate for this work is £220,000 - 320,000, as shown online and not as stated in the printed 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. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Renoir’s still-lifes are some of the most sensually appealing compositions of Impressionist art. Rendered with the artist’s characteristic light touch of the brush and soft palette, his compositions encapsulate the aromatic beauty of each succulent piece of fruit. Renoir ingeniously drew upon his own creative talent to convey still-lifes with an extraordinary freshness and sensitivity, departing from the trompe l’oeil technique that had been used for still-lifes by artists for centuries. The present work is a brilliant example of Renoir’s deceptively simple still-lifes, revitalizing this age-old subject with an Impressionist flair. The artist painted and sold many small still-life paintings during the later years of his life. At this stage in his career, Renoir could paint at leisure, no longer having to depend on client commissions or the expectations of his dealers. Nature Morte aux Pommes has a charmingly informal composition, imbuing a sense of invigorated freedom and spontaneity as the subject matter allows the experimentation of light and colour. Short, yet slightly feathery brushstrokes enhance the tactile nature of the pieces of fruit, animated by the vibrant colours and illuminating light which create dynamic shadows around the outline of the fruit arrangement. Renoir’s still-lifes inspired Paul Cézanne’s investigation of this theme, whose exploration of geometry and spatial perspective would change the direction of modern art. The present work exhibits Renoir’s enjoyment and appreciation for the still-life; he once told Albert André that it was in these small works that ‘he put the whole of himself, that he took every risk’ (Albert André, Renoir,Paris, 1928, p. 49). Nature Morte aux Pommes wonderfully displays how the pursuit of beauty was first and foremost Renoir’s artistic priority.



This work will be included in the forthcoming Renoir Digital Catalogue Raisonné, currently being prepared under the sponsorship of the Wildenstein Plattner Institute, Inc. This work will be included in the second supplement to the Catalogue raisonné des tableaux, pastels, dessins et aquarelles de Pierre-Auguste Renoir being prepared by Guy Patrice Dauberville and Floriane Dauberville, published by Bernheim-Jeune.