Alfred de Dreux

Alfred Daber, Paris
Mr. and Mrs. John Hay Whitney
Sale: Property from the Greentree Foundation, from the Collection of Mr. and Mrs. John Hay Whitney, Sotheby's, New York, May 5, 2004, lot 16, illustrated as Cheval blanc effraye par l'orage
Richard Green, London
Acquired from the above
Private Collection

Paris, Chateau de Maisons-Lafitte, Alfred de Dreux: Exposition Retrospective, 1928, no. 14
Paris, Galerie Charpentier, Chevaux et cavaliers, 1948, no. 36
Washington, D.C., National Gallery of Art, The John Hay Whitney Collection, 1938, no. 7
Saratoga, New York, National Museum of Racing, A Selection of Equestrian Art from the Collection of Mr. and Mrs. John Hay Whitney, 1989, no. 5

"Alfred de Dreux," Connaissance Des Arts, Paris, November 1953, illustrated p. 27
The John Hay Whitney Collection, exh. cat., London, 1960-61, discussed under no. 22
Marie-Christine Renauld, Alfred de Dreux: Le Cheval, passion d'un dandy Parisien, Paris, 1997, p. 71, illustrated p. 64
Marie-Christine Renauld, L'univers d'Alfred de Dreux, 1810-1860, suivi du catalogue raisonné, 2008, illustrated facing p. 43, p. 65, Inv. MCR 282, illustrated

The following condition report was kindly provided by Simon Parkes Art Conservation, Inc.: This painting has been recently restored and is in very good state. The canvas is lined. The paint layer is stable and well-textured. The lining is adhered with a glue-based adhesive. There is retouching in the upper right addressing a small group of paint losses. In the horse there are a few retouches addressing a small scratch on the right foreleg, a spot or two in the neck and a mark in the tail. There are no other restorations in the rest of the picture. There is an old varnish covering most of the inscription in the lower right but this appears to be purely the result of a very conservative cleaning method, where the previous restorer did not want to clean the signature itself. The painting should be hung as is.
"This lot is offered for sale subject to Sotheby's Conditions of Business, which are available on request and printed in Sotheby's sale catalogues. The independent reports contained in this document are provided for prospective bidders' information only and without warranty by Sotheby's or the Seller."

Painted between 1845 and 1852 (Renauld, L'univers, p. 65) Etalon gris effrayé par l'orage is a masterful work which reveals de Dreux's years of study and the  refinement of his style. In his depiction of this powerful animal's weight rested against its haunches, hoof raised, lip curled, eye wide open, de Dreux is able to convey the panic caused by the darkening skies of the approaching storm. This evocative composition demonstrated de Dreux's interest in Eugène Delacroix's Romantic compositions and lessons learned in Théodore Géricault's studio. Yet, unlike Géricault's A Horse Frightened by lightning (1813-14, The National Gallery, London), where the animal's face reflects fear as his body stands in reserved profile, de Dreux's highly expressive brushstrokes convey the bodily frenzy of the animal.  While compositionally the work nods to British artists such as George Morland, John Constable, and Edwin Henry Landseer (whose works were exposed to de Dreux during his 1844 visit to London), a corollary inspiration is likely the artist's introduction to the sights and sounds of North Africa and the Middle East. Louis-Phillippe's reign (1830-1840) brought an expanded colonial presence in North Africa, notably Algeria; new diplomatic and commercial relationships brought exotic items to Europe, fueling the Orientalist fervor in art and culture. While de Dreux did not visit the regions himself, fellow artists, politicians, and wealthy patrons returned from their travels and introduced him to the inspirational appeal of the area.  Of particular interest for de Dreux was the Arabian horse and tales of its ancient role in regional life, its power in military campaigns, and its role as a symbol of nobility. As early as 1832 de Dreux wrote of his fascination with the stallion: its "head that carries the sign that confirm the nobleness of its race," its long forehead, rectilinear profile, big and expressive eyes, well-defined nostrils and silky mane (translated as quoted in Renaud, L'univers, p. 71). While it is not certain if the present work's horse is of Arabian extraction, it certainly shares the physical and emotive characteristics described by the artist. It is master works such as Etalon gris effrayé par l'orage that brought de Dreux important patrons among the French and British aristocracy.  More recently the work was held in the important collection of Mr. and Mrs. John Hay Whitney before being sold in the landmark sale of Property from the Greentree Foundation in these rooms, May 5, 2004.