Jean-Charles-Joseph Rémond

Le Moyne de Martigny collection, no. 1028 (from an old stamp on the stretcher);
Anonymous sale, New York, Christie's, 22 May 1998, lot 87;
There purchased by the present collector for $43,700.

For a high resolution digital image, please refer to the online catalogue at Sothebys.com or contact a member of the Old Master Paintings department. This canvas appears to be unlined and is in a beautiful state of preservation. The paint layer is stable and the craquelure is not distracting. There is minor abrasion at the upper center framing edge. There are lovely impasto details in the figures; in the rocky outcropping of the arch at right; and in the ground at lower center. Under UV, the surface is covered by a milky varnish. There are a few spots of retouch applied on top of this layer, along the upper edge, and in the leaves and vines that overhang the arch. These have been well and carefully applied and the painting can be hung as is. In a simple carved and gilt 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.

A pupil of Henri Regnault and Jean Victor Bertin, Rémond exhibited at the Salon from 1814 to1848 and won the prestigious Grand Prix de Paysage Historique in 1821 with L'Enlèvement de Proserpine par Pluton.  As a recipient of this prize, Rémond travelled to Italy for the next five years, where he was captivated by the intensity of the southern light.  The present composition, View of Tivoli from a Grotto, was painted early in his career, during his first trip to Italy.  His bright color palette and painterly brushstrokes evoke the idyllic Italian countryside.