Marc Chagall

Dr. Raymond Leibovici, Paris (acquired from the artist circa 1949)
La Galerie "18", Paris
Acquired from the above in June 1963

Work is in excellent condition. Canvas is not lined. The paint surface is richly textured and the pigments remain bright and fresh. Some old frame abrasion with associated small spots of paint-loss is visible along the extreme perimeter (not visible when framed) and there are a few thin stable lines of craquelure running horizontally towards the upper and lower edges. Under UV light: some original pigments fluoresce but no in-painting is apparent.
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.

Scène champêtre is a quintessential example of the fantastic, dream-like quality of Chagall's art, combining some of the key elements of his iconography: a mother and child, a gloriously bright tree in full flower and whimsical animals. With its fanciful, composition, the painting becomes an expression of the artist's internal universe rather than an objective projection of the outside world.

Chagall once said: "I painted cows, dairies, roosters and the architecture of the Russian provinces as a source of forms because all these subjects are part of the country I come from, and these things have without doubt left in my visual memory a more profound impression than all the others that I may have received. Every painter is from somewhere, and even if later he responds to other surroundings, a certain essence, a certain aroma of his native land will always remain in his work" (quoted in Charles Sorlier (ed.), Chagall by Chagall, New York, 1979, p. 78).

Painted during the time when Chagall lived in the South of France, the present work reflects his fascination with the region. Having lived in Paris for several years, Chagall first moved to the Côte d'Azur in 1926. From this inital contact stems his later passion for the region, where the vegetation and the light were a revelation to him. As Walter Erben writes: "The Southern French landscape has astonished Chagall with its wealth of colours and its lyrical atmosphere had captivated him with the beauty of its flowers and foliage. These impressions found their way into his paintings of that period, refined their peinture and lent them a hitherto unknown radiance" (Walter Erben, Marc Chagall, London, 1957, p. 134).

The first owner of the present work was a famed Parisian surgeon who both treated artists and acquired their works for his collection. His 1963 surgery on Alberto Giacometti's malignant stomach tumor saved the artist's life.