- 24
Charles Despiau
Estimate
10,000 - 15,000 GBP
bidding is closed
Description
- Charles Despiau
- Portrait bust of Maria Lani
- signed: C. Despiau
- bronze, dark brown patina, on a black marble base
stamped: CIRE / PERDUE / C. VALSUANI and numbered: 2/8
Provenance
acquired directly from the artist by Frank Crowninshield, July 1944
by whom sold to Mr. and Mrs. Ralph F. Colin, New York, 1944
their sale, Christie's New York, 10 May 1995, lot 28
by whom sold to Mr. and Mrs. Ralph F. Colin, New York, 1944
their sale, Christie's New York, 10 May 1995, lot 28
Condition
Overall the condition is good with dirt and wear to the surface consistent with age. There are areas of dryness to the patina. There are traces of orange paint to the bottom edge. There are a number of chips and scratches to the marble base, including to the edges and corners.
"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."
"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."
Catalogue Note
French sculptor and illustrator Charles Despiau exhibited his portrait bust Paulette at the Pompidou in 1907. Noticing the artist’s talents at this view, Auguste Rodin invited Despiau to join his studio and work under his direction as an assistant. Despiau stayed for seven years, honing his technical facilities and mastering his own individual style. The majority of the artist’s oeuvre consists of portrait busts; he would agonise over the rendering of a personal character and often require over fifty sittings in order to honour the individuality of his model.
The present bronze is a portrait of Maria Lani, a notorious muse for artists in twentieth century Paris. She persuaded the likes of Chagall, Matisse, Bonnard, Zadkine and Modigliani to portray her on the illusory grounds that she was a film star and could exhibit their portraits on the silver screen. There are eight casts of the present model with eyes open, and another eight of a variant model with eyes closed. The present bronze is numbered four of eight. A model with closed eyes is in the Metropolitan Museum of Art (inv. no. 55.21.9).
RELATED LITERATURE
P. Elliot, After Rodin. French figurative sculpture 1900-1940 from the Marjon Collection, London, 2013, no. 49, pp. 102-3