Emile-Auguste Hublin

Private Collection, United Kingdom (by 1950)
Thence by descent through the family (and sold, Sotheby's, London, June 27, 2007, lot 299, illustrated)
Sale: Sotheby's, New York, October 23, 2008, lot 74, illustrated

Paris, Salon, 1870, no. 1397

This painting has been lined. Previous restorations are faintly visible in the area in the upper right. Under UV, these small touch-ups are revealed; newer restorations are revealed in her headband, in the top left, along the left edge due to frame abrasion, and addressing fine craquellure in the face.
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.

Emile Auguste Hublin studied at the École des Beaux-Arts beginning in 1855 and became a student of François Edouard Picot (1786-1868), who also taught William Bouguereau.  He exhibited at the Paris Salon between 1861 and 1880.  

In the present work, Hublin depicts a charming scene of a young girl sharing her simple meal with two birds.  The vivid red cherries beside the broken bread on her plate glisten against the otherwise somber palette of the composition, attracting the attention of the birds and the viewer.  The girl's turquoise necklace, the porcelain brilliance of her delicate skin, and the bright materials in her sewing basket on the chair beside her, also draw the eye.  Her pale yet rosy complexion and short-sleeved chemise are softly but precisely rendered and appear to radiate light from within the dark interior.