Henri Pierre Léon Pharamond Blanchard (1805-1873)

oil on canvas

Private Collection, Europe
Galerías Cristobal, Mexico City
Private Collection, Mexico City

The painting is in excellent condition. It has faint craquelure in the upper center area, paint loss to the upper right corner and a black dot in the upper right center.
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.

Blanchard entered the École des Beaux-Arts in 1819 where he trained under the tutelage of the neo-classical Napoleonic painter Antoine-Jean Gros (father of Baron Gros, refer to Lot 32). Throughout his career, Blanchard traveled extensively as a member of several expeditions to diverse regions such as Spain, Brazil, North Africa, Constantinople, and Mexico.

 

Blanchard journeyed to Mexico in 1838, accompanying the Prince de Joinville (a younger son of King Louis-Philippe, and an amateur artist of considerable talent) as a part of an official expedition under the command of Vice-Admiral Baudin. Upon his return to France, he completed a series of five works commemorating the attack and conquest of Vera Cruz. His Mexican adventure later inspired two other historical paintings, Fernando Cortez and Nuñez de Balboa Discovering the South Sea in 1515. Additionally, in 1859 he co-authored and illustrated with fellow painter Adrien Dauzats, the travel diary San Juan de Uluà: Ou Relacion de L'expedition Francaise au Mexique.

 

Although Blanchard is better known as a genre or costumbrista painter, in works such as these one observes his ability to take full advantage of the dramatic and aesthetic effects of the surrounding landscape. In Vendedores de fruta con el Pico de Orizaba, Blanchard ably records the locals in their everyday activities, while extending his gaze outwards to expose the monumental presence of the Mexico's highest mountain, the Pico de Orizaba or Citlaltépetl (Nahuatl for "star mountain") with its snow-capped peak and atmospheric clouds that simultaneously imbue the painting with a sense of romance, adventure, and wonderment.

 

 

This painting may be considered an artistic monument of Mexico and, if so, could not be exported without the approval of the Instituto Nacional de Antropologia e Historia (INAH).  Accordingly, it is offered for sale in New York from the catalogue and will not be available in New York for inspection or delivery.  The painting will be released to the purchaser in Mexico in compliance with all local requirements.  Prospective buyers may contact Sotheby's representatives in Mexico City and Monterrey for an appointment to view the work.