Berthe Morisot

Mme Julie Manet-Rouart, Paris
Dr & Mrs Julien Rouart, Paris (by descent from the above; sale: Ferri Scp., Paris, Importants dessins et tableaux impressionnistes provenant de la succession de Madame Julien Rouart, 27th November 1997, lot 5) 
Galerie Hopkins-Thomas, Paris
Acquired from the above by the present owner

Paris, Galerie Dru, Pastels, aquarelles, dessins, crayons de Berthe Morisot, 1926, no. 15
Paris, Galerie Bernheim-Jeune, Berthe Morisot, 1929, no. 155
Paris, Palais du Louvre, Pavillon de Marsan, Le décor et la vie sous la IIIème République de 1870 à 1900, 1933, no. 380
Paris, Galerie Bernheim-Jeune, Cent ans de théâtre, music-hall et cirque, 1936, no. 72
Paris, Musée de l'Orangerie, Berthe Morisot, 1941, no. 286
Paris, Galerie André Weill, Berthe Morisot, 1947
Paris, Durand-Ruel, Berthe Morisot, pastels, aquarelles, dessins, 1948, no. 25
Copenhagen, Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, Berthe Morisot, 1949, no. 63
Paris, Musée Jacquemart-André, Berthe Morisot, 1961, no. 112

Théodore Duret, Histoire des Impressionnistes, Paris, 1939, illustrated p. 147
Louis Rouart, Berthe Morisot, Paris, 1941, illustrated p. 35
Marie-Louise Bataille & Georges Wildenstein, Berthe Morisot, Catalogue des peintures, pastels et aquarelles, Paris, 1961, no. 504, illustrated pl. 55

Executed on buff-coloured laid paper, not laid down, taped to the mount along all four edges. There are artist's pinholes at the top two corners. There are minor nicks and tears all along four edges. Apart from a 1.5cm. repaired tear to the bottom right corner and a nailhead-sized paper loss to the centre of the bottom edge, this work is in good condition. Colours: the colours are slightly more vibrant in the original.
"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."

Executed in 1886, La Danseuse de Corde typifies the loose, highly Impressionistic style that Morisot experimented with in the 1880s. Her fluid, spontaneous use of pastel in this work almost verges on abstraction, and was derived from Morisot's interest in the studies of 18th century French masters. Following a visit to Renoir's studio in 1885, where she saw the influence of Watteau, Boucher and Fragonard on his preparatory drawings, she began to make an increasing number of preparatory studies of her own figure paintings. Her sketchbooks from 1885 suggest she actually went to Versailles to copy works by the 18th century French masters. This work demonstrates the effects of these influences on Morisot's technique, and shows a growing confidence as she developed a highly idyosyncratic sketchlike style.