Federico Zandomeneghi

François Depeaux (probably purchased from Galerie Durand-Ruel, Paris circa 1895)
Sale: Paris, Galerie Georges Petit, Vente Depeaux, 31 May & 1 June 1906, lot 90
François Depeaux (re-purchased at the above sale); thence by descent to the present owner

Unexamined out of frame and under glass, the sheet is in good condition. This work is in overall very good condition, with rich colours and a strong, clean surface, and ready to hang. Held in a simple, striated, gold-painted moulded plaster and wood frame with a wide, brown velvet slip.
"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."

The present work typifies Zandomeneghi's work from 1880 onwards, when he devoted a great deal of his oeuvre to pastels. The luminous vibrancy of the young girl's dress, skin and hair shows the painter's affinities with Degas, Auguste Renoir and Mary Cassatt. The serenity and intimacy of the scene combined with the play of light on the rich textures demonstrate why Zandomeneghi earned the nickname Le Vénetien among his colleagues and friends.

When Zandomeneghi visited Paris in 1874, he had planned to stay only briefly. Enchanted with the city and the artistic climate of the 1870s, he was, however, to remain in the French capital for the rest of his life. Through Edgar Degas, Zandomeneghi was introduced to the circle of Impressionist artists active in Paris at the time, and he exhibited in the fifth, sixth and final Impressionist exhibitions of 1880, 1881 and 1886 respectively.

The present work will be illustrated in François Depeaux (1853-1920) le charbonnier et les impressionnistes, by Marc-Henri Tellier.