RUPERT BUNNY

Whitford and Hughes London, 3 April 1986
Collection of John Schaeffer A.O.
Important Australian Paintings from the Collection of John Schaeffer A.O., Sotheby's, Sydney, 25 August 2003, lot 9
Private collection, Sydney; purchased from the above

Good condition. Some cracking in background with two associated very small losses upper left. UV inspection reveals cracks and loss top centre (in hair) which has been infilled/over-painted. Over-painting at left hand edge.
"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."

Mrs Bunny (On a Green Sofa) is one of several outstanding paintings by Rupert Bunny in which he reveals his enthrallment with his beautiful wife. Youthful, elegant, dressed at the height of fashion in an era when femininity was in vogue, she was, as one Australian writer described her, 'the soul of Rupert Bunny's art.' ¹ Her striking beauty epitomized one aspect of the belle époque, violet of eyes, black hair, a charming retroussé nose, and lips which Bunny once described as the most beautiful he had ever seen. Rupert and Jeanne were fellow art students in Paris when it was the art capital of the world. They married in London in 1902, and she became his chief model. Several paintings in which they featured led up to this event, and others flowed from his brush that year in painterly celebration. An Idyll of 1901 (Art Gallery of South Australia) presents them in the classical mythological role of Mars and Venus watched over by Cupid, and another from about this time, Cupid and the Lovers, was sold by Sotheby's in 2002. Two individual portraits of circa 1902 engagingly show Jeanne Bunny holding their pet Jack Russell, while a more formal and grand version, The Muslin Dress (National Gallery of Victoria) was exhibited in the Paris Salon d'Automne of 1903. In none of these does Jeanne Bunny look quite so chic as in this enchanting work. As our Australian writer said, 'Madame Bunny is French, and adorable.' ²

We are grateful to David Thomas for his assistance in cataloguing this work. 

1. Vandorian, 'A Visit to Rupert Bunny', The Home, Sydney, vol. 3, no. 4, 1 December 1922, p. 30 
2. ibid