Henri Lebasque

Acquired by the present owner's family before 1975

Paris, Salon des Tuilleries, 1930

Good condition. Original canvas. Under UV light, there are 10-15 pinhead-size dots of inpainting in background at upper left quadrant. There are 5-10 scattered pinhead-size dots of inpainting in the figure. One nailhead-size spot of inpainting 5 inches left of figure's head to address loss. Another nailhead-size spot of inpainting 1-inch from center of the left edge to address loss. A few other scattered pinhead-size dots in the chair and rug.
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.

Femme nue assise eloquently portrays one of Lebasque's favorite subjects, the female nude. Lisa Banner highlights the importance of the nude in Lebasque's oeuvre, "Lebasque displays this model at ease in the sunny interiors of his house at Le Cannet, in various close and revealed poses, full of gentle curves in movement and stroke of colors... Henri Lebasque invites the viewer into this intimate and private world, laden with the power of suggestion and seduction... These women softened and full as the bodies of Renoir's nudes, have a substance and naturalism which make them immediately pleasing. They are presented in a manner to suggest the artist's ease with his model and her naturalness with him." (Lisa Banner & Peter Fairbanks, Henri Lebasque 1865-1937, (exhibition catalogue) San Francisco, 1986, p. 74) Banner continues, "Lebasque demonstrated in his odalisques, as in all his best work, a quiet vitality and an energy contained even in repose. Lebasque painted his young models in poses of penetrating intimacy and subtle clarity..." (op. cit., p. 72).

The present work highlights Lebasque's fascination with not only the portrayal of the female nude, but also the rich adjoining ornamentation, showing delight in depicting luxuriant fabrics and color.  The fleeting moment of the depicted scene has a voyeuristic feel; the viewer's gaze is focused on the sensitively captured surface tones of the model's skin, whose smoothness and curvilinear forms are in harmony with the textiles rich upholstery supporting her.