Pierre-Auguste Renoir

Acquired by the family of the present owners circa 1970s

The canvas is lined. There is a small spot of retouching to the bottom of the central lemon, and a further few tiny specks elsewhere. These retouchings are visible under UV light. There is a pinhole to the lower left corner. There are some small flecks of paint loss to the extreme edges, most prominently in the upper right corner. There is a light layer of surface dirt and discoloured varnish and this work would benefit from a clean. Otherwise, this work is in overall good condition. Colours: The yellows in the original are more vibrant and the work is overall less pink than in the printed 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. 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."

'Renoir reconciles extreme discretion with extreme richness, and his full-bodied density is made up, it would seem, of coloured air. This is a lyrical idiom hitherto unknown in still life, even in those of Chardin. Between these objects and us there floats a luminous haze through which we distinguish them, tenderly united in a subdued shimmer of light.'

(C. Sterling, Still Life in Painting from Antiquity to the Present Time, Paris, 1959, p. 100)