Two large papiers peints 'en grisaille' from the Psyché series manufactured by Dufour, Paris, after designs by Merry-Joseph Blondel and Louis Lafitte en suite with lots 212, 213 and 214 Empire, circa 1817

depicting `Psyché bathing' and `Psyché showing her jewels to her sister', each later lined with canvas and mounted on later poplar frames

In good conserved condition and can be placed immediately. Some old repairs and bubbling where relaid down on later canvas and frames. Minor areas of old repair to left panel top left with some water marks and some old repairs to floor area. Right panel-some areas of discoloration in column areas where old repairs and aslo in the bottom left corner.
"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."

Comparative Literature:
Mireille Guibert, Papiers Peints, 1800-1875, Paris 1980.
Collection Connaissance des Arts, Le XIX siècle français, Paris 1957, pages 155-157.
François Teynac, Le Monde du Papier peint, Berger Levrault, 1981, pages 117-118.
O. Nouvel-Kammerer, French Scenic Wallpaper, 1795-1865, Tours 2000, p. 118.

The popularity of wall decoration in the form of scenic wallpaper in bourgeois salons and dining rooms, according to Yvonne Brunhammer, see Le monde du papier peint,  op. cit., corresponds to a profound need: "the interior is not just the universe but also the étui of the  private individual".

Psyché was one of Dufour's most neoclassical wallpapers and introduced in 1816. The story is depicted as unfolding in a classical place with scaled down landscapes comparable to contemporary paintings.  According to Nouvel-Kammerer, op. cit., `the title of the promotional brochure, Psyché et Cupidon, tableaux-tentures en papier peint de la masion Joseph Dufour, promotes the wallpaper as a series of `paintings or wall hangings' unequivocally indicates the manufacturer's decorative intentions'.

Nouvel-Kammerer, op. cit., pp. 262-263, no. 4, illustrates the original a set of 26 lengths of wallpaper, which was exhibited at the French Industrial Exposition, Paris of 1819. The twelve lengths are illustrations of the novel, Les Amours de Psyché et Cupidon by Jean de La Fontaine who in turn was originally inspired by Apulieus's tale L'âne doré. The titles of the episodes were printed at the bottom of each length. Five of the twelve scenes were inspired by Gérard's engravings.

The leading French maker of scenic wall-paper during the Empire and Restauration periods, Joseph Dufour (1752-1827), began in 1805 in Macon producing handsome papers, including 'Sauvages de la Mer du Pacifique (Savages of the Pacific)' against an exotic landscape. In 1808, he moved to 10 rue Beauvau, Paris and produced many wall-papers printed in bright clear colours, including views of Paris, Venice, London and others, groups of antique sculpture or Greek mythological scenes in grisaille and some illustrations of literature. After 1815, he worked extensively for exports to England and America. In association with his son-in-law Amable Leroy (d. 1880), he founded the firm Dufour et Leroy. From 1825 onwards, they also produced papers with religious subjects. After Dufours death in 1827 Leroy continued to produce wallpaper under Dufour et Leroy,  until he assigned to the firm of Lapeyre et Drouard in 1836

The present Psyché and Cupidon series of wall-paper originally comprised twelve panels directly inspired by the novel of La Fontaine Les Amours de Psyché et de Cupidon; they were executed in 1816 by Louis Lafitte (1770-1828) and Merry-Joseph Blondel ( 1781-1853) for Dufour et Leroy. Exhibited at the 1819 Exposition des Produits de l'industrie it was awarded a silver medal. In 1865. Desfossé & Karth bought the rights and original wooden blocks from Lapeyre et Drouard and reprinted most of their series, as well as this series of Psyché in 1872,1889,1905,1923 and 1931.