Jean-Honoré Fragonard

Anonymous sale, New York, Sotheby's, 14 January 1994, lot 92.

The following condition report has been provided by Simon Parkes of Simon Parkes Art Conservation, Inc. 502 East 74th St. New York, NY 212-734-3920, simonparkes@msn.com, an independent restorer who is not an employee of Sotheby's. This painting has been recently restored. It is lined, cleaned and retouched. The condition is extremely good and the restoration is certainly effective. Under ultraviolet light, one can see that there is a vertical break in the canvas in the sky in the upper right corner, which runs about five inches. There is another horizontal break in the lower center sky, which also runs about five inches. There is a smaller horizontal break in the upper center sky that runs about four inches. There is a thin five inch restoration running vertically beneath the brown tree on the far left side, and another vertical restoration in the lower left corner. Both of these probably address thin breaks. There are smaller isolated restorations addressing very minor losses or other insignificant issues. The figures, the animals and the remainder of the foreground, except for a vertical line of restoration in the dark colors in center, are in beautiful condition. Although the restorations are visible under ultraviolet light, they certainly do not take away from the very obviously fresh and healthy paint layer.
"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."

When Pastoral Landscape with a Shepherd and Shepherdess at Rest first came to light nearly two decades ago it was recognized by Eunice Williams as very early picture by Fragonard, dating to his years in Italy from late 1756 to 1761.  The attribution has since been confirmed by other scholars.  The painting is the work of an artist who, though trained by Boucher and familiar with the grand manner of Vanloo, used this time in Italy to begin to formulate a more individual style.   

As Pierre Rosenberg notes Fragonard's Italian paintings are characterized by a clear perspective, rapid brush work and vivid use of color, as well as a fondness for the commonplace.¹  The Pastoral Landscape with a Shepherd and Shepherdess at Rest is clearly in that mold.  Fragonard has set the scene in the campagna. His figures are neither heroic nor elegant, an amorous shepherd couple who gaze longingly at each other.  At their feet is a dog, with a somewhat dubious expression on his face, while at the center of the composition is a large white cow who looks directly at us.  Fragonard paints thinly and rapidly, in quick bold strokes, perhaps none so spontaneous as the flick of the cow's tail.  

1.  P. Rosenberg, Fragonard, exhibition catalogue, New York 1988, pp. 63-64.