Lot 279
  • 279

Paul Delaroche

Estimate
20,000 - 30,000 USD
bidding is closed

Description

  • Paul Delaroche
  • Portrait of Philippe-GrĂ©goire Delaroche, son of the artist, half length, leaning on a ledge
  • dated on the ledge, lower left: Novembre 1851 (Nice)
  • oil on canvas

Provenance

Paul Delaroche;
Thence by decent in the Delaroche-Vernet family;
From whom acquired by the present owner.

Exhibited

Paris, Palais des Beaux-Arts, Exposition des oeuvres de Paul Delaroche, 21 April 1857, no. 57;
Nantes, Musée des Beaux-Arts; Montpellier, Pavillon du Musée Fabre, Paul Delaroche : un peintre dans l'histoire, 22 October 1999 - 23 April 2000, no. 85.

Literature

J. Goddé, Exposition des oeuvres de Paul Delaroche, exhibition catalogue, cat. no. 43, reproduced plate 57;
N.D. Ziff, Paul Delaroche, A Study of Nineteenth-Century French History Painting, New York and London 1977, p.299, cat. no. 182, reproduced p. 394, fig. 142;
S. Bann, Paul Delaroche, History Painted, Princeton 1997, p. 235-236, reproduced p. 237, fig. 148;
C Cosneau-Allemand and I. Julia, Paul Delaroche : un peintre dans l'histoire, exhibition catalogue, Nantes 1999, pp. 169 and 322-333, reproduced pp. 169 and 322.

Condition

The painting is relined. Overall the picture is in very nice condition with no major retouches at all to speak of. There is an uneven varnish applied over the face and shoulders of the sitter, which may be in part due to the fact that the boys face is shown in shadow, but this is not disturbing to the naked eye. In a carved gilt wood frame.
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.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Catalogue Note

Philippe-Grégoire, the youngest son of the artist, is shown here at the age of ten.  In a sketch of Philippe sitting in the lap of his mother, Louise, drawn just before her death in 1845, we recognise the soft, round cheeks, slightly downturned mouth, and ernest, shadowed eyes that would characterise many of the children portrayed in Delaroche's history paintings.1

1.  S. Bann, under Literatureop. cit., p. 235, reproduced fig. 146.