Continental School, 19th Century

Believed to be in the Montpensier Collection, Palacio de San Lúcar de Barrameda;
Private collection, Seville.

The following condition report is provided by Rebecca Gregg who is an extenal expert and not an employee of Sotheby's. The original canvas is in very good condition; unlined, the canvas is stable although slightly slack, which has produced gentle planar deformations across the surface. The stretcher bar marks have become prominent. The paint layers are in good condition. There are minor losses along the lower stretcher bar marks and three mechanical damages in the lower right quadrant which have resulted in small losses to the paint and ground layers. The impasto paint along the lower edge and the stretcher bar are slightly vulnerable to further loss but the overall adhesion between paint and ground layers and the support appears good. There are a series of small retouchings scattered across the surface. There is a thick and significantly discoloured varnish layer across the surface. There are various drips across the surface but these appear to be above the varnish layer. There is a layer of surface dirt and fly spotting present. The painting was examined in the frame.
"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."

Datable to the early 19th century, this highly impressive painting depicts two Bengal tigers, also known as Royal Bengal tigers (Panthera tigris tigris). The majestic animal is native to India, Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan, and early depictions of the species on this scale are relatively rare.

Whilst the precise authorship of the present work has yet to be established, the painting is believed to have formed part of the collection of the Dukes of Montpensier, Don Antonio Mª. de Orleáns (1824-1890) and the Infanta Maria Luisa Fernanda de Borbón (1832-1897), younger sister to Queen Isabel II of Spain. They settled in Seville in 1848 and spent the summer seasons in Sanlúcar de Barrameda, near Cadiz, where they built a palace and acquired part of the old Botanical garden, which had originated as part of the Enlightenment programme initiated by Prime Minister Manuel Godoy. Within the estate of 'El Botánico', the Dukes built a series of architectural follies which were heavily influenced by architecture and decoration from their travels through Africa and the East. The exotic nature of the present work, which is inscribed on the reverse in Spanish 'tigres de bengala' would have adhered beautifully to the taste with which their estate was adorned and within which they enjoyed close proximity to nature itself.

The Bengal tiger is the national animal of India.