François Boucher Paris 1703 - 1770

Mrs. Alan L. Corey, New York and Glen Head;
purchased at her sale, New York, Sotheby Parke Bernet, 7 December 1974, lot 585, reproduced (as Attributed to François Boucher)

Unframed. Laid down on relatively modern stiffened paper. The sheet is very clear, without any fox marks or stains, and the chalk is fresh and strong. In very good condition.
"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."

We are indebted to Alastair Laing for the following information.
An etching by Denis Pierre Jean Papillon de la Ferté records this composition, with minor differences, as part of his series of prints after Boucher of Divers Paysages.¹  Although the etching is lettered Boucher pinxit, the composition does not appear to relate to any known painting. 

A further print of the left-hand side of the present drawing was engraved by J.H. Eberts, with a dedication to Boucher and entitled Jeanette.²  However, as this engraving is in an upright format, and it is unlikely that Eberts would have taken the liberty of distorting a Boucher composition, Alastair Laing has suggested  therefore that the print would appear to record a lost drawing of the same subject. 

An autograph drawing by Boucher, a variant of the present composition with minor differences in staffage and other details, is in the Achenbach Foundation, San Francisco.³  A copy of this was sold, twice, at Sotheby's.⁴

1. See P. Jean-Richard, L'Oeuvre Gravé de François Boucher dans la Collection Edmond de Rothschild, Paris 1978, p. 246, cat. no. 961.

2. A. Ananoff, François Boucher, 2 vols., Paris 1976, vol. I, p. 371, cat. no. 255/3

3. Ananoff, op.cit., cat. no. 255/2

4. New York, 8 January 1991, lot 117 and London, 15 April 1992, lot 318 (as by Boucher)