Lot 197
  • 197

Henri Lebasque

Estimate
150,000 - 200,000 USD
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Description

  • Henri Lebasque
  • NU ASSIS
  • Signed Lebasque (lower right)

  • Oil on canvas
  • 25 3/4 by 21 5/8 in.
  • 65.5 by 55 cm

Provenance

Mme Loudmer, Paris
Gallery Jean Tiroche, New York
Oscar Kimelman, New York (sold: Christie's, New York,  February 16, 1989, lot 25)
Acquired at the above sale by the previous owner

 

Condition

Canvas is unlined. A few tiny cracks in white pigment and a few hairline cracks in upper chest. There is a 2 inch faint scrape leading from her right knee cap. Under UV light, a few specks of inpainting along lower right edge to cover frame abrasion. 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.
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.

Catalogue Note

The present work eloquently portrays Lebasque's fascination with both the female nude and rich ornamentation. Set against a background of brightly-colored textiles, the model in the present work displays her nude figure with ease while discreetly lowering her face away from the viewer, providing the scene with a voyeuristic feel. The raking light beautifully captures the surface tones of the model's skin, and her curvilinear forms stand out against the draped and rich textiles surrounding her.

In discussing the importance of nudes in Lebasque's oeuvre, Lisa Banner notes: "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" (Lisa Banner, op. cit., p. 72).