- 43
Sophie Lemire Versailles 1785 - died after 1819
Estimate
6,000 - 8,000 USD
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Description
- Sophie Lemire
- Madame de la Vallière giving instruction in piety to her daughter Mlle. de Blois
- signed lower right Sophie Lemire
- oil on canvas
- 24 3/4 by 18 3/4 in.
- 62.9 by 47.6 cm.
Provenance
Louis-Antoine Lavalée,
His sale, Paris, Charles Paillet, March 9, 1818;
Anonymous sale, New York, Sotheby's, May 25, 2000, lot 125.
His sale, Paris, Charles Paillet, March 9, 1818;
Anonymous sale, New York, Sotheby's, May 25, 2000, lot 125.
Exhibited
Paris, Salon du Musée Napoléon, 1812, no. 1333 (and engraved by Mme. Soyer for the Annales du musée du Salon de 1812).
Literature
C.P. Landon, Les Annales du Musée, 1812, tome 1, plate 63, pp. 84-86;
E. Bellier & L. Auvray, Dictionnaire général des artistes de l'école française, Paris 1882, vol. I, p. 995;
Dr. H. Mireur, Dictionnaire des ventes d'art faites en France et à l'étranger..., Paris 1911, tome 4, p. 276;
D.V. Denon, L'oeil de Napoléon, exhibition catalogue, Paris 1999, under no. 141.
E. Bellier & L. Auvray, Dictionnaire général des artistes de l'école française, Paris 1882, vol. I, p. 995;
Dr. H. Mireur, Dictionnaire des ventes d'art faites en France et à l'étranger..., Paris 1911, tome 4, p. 276;
D.V. Denon, L'oeil de Napoléon, exhibition catalogue, Paris 1999, under no. 141.
Condition
The following condition report has been provided by Simon Parkes of Simon Parkes Art Conservation, Inc. 502 East 74th St. New York, NY 212-734-3920, simonparkes@msn.com , an independent restorer who is not an employee of Sotheby's.
This canvas has been lined and although the cracking is very slightly raised, it is not unstable or disturbing. In the dark dress of the nun and in her black shawl there are some restorations but they have been quite broadly applied and they may not all be necessary. There are a few other spots of retouch visible in the upper wall above the figures, yet in general the condition seems to be very good. The restorations could be reexamined to make them more economical, but the picture could also be hung as is.
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.
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
Louise-Françoise de La Baume de Blanc, Duchess de La Vallière was appointed maid of honor to Louis XIV's sister-in-law, the Duchess d'Orléans in 1661. De La Vallière had a sweetness and charm that attracted the King. She was his mistress until 1667 when she was replaced by the Marquise de Montespan. Although she no longer held the King's affections de La Vallière remained at court as the official mistress until 1675 when she was finally allowed to leave to enter a Carmelite convent in Paris.