Lot 7
  • 7

Victor Gabriel Gilbert

Estimate
50,000 - 70,000 USD
bidding is closed

Description

  • Victor Gabriel Gilbert
  • The Arrival of the Fishing Boats
  • signed Victor Gilbert and dated 1882 (lower left)
  • oil on canvas
  • 25 5/8 by 21 3/8 in.
  • 65 by 54.2 cm

Provenance

Private Collection
Charles Hyson, New Jersey (acquired from the estate sale of the above, 1970s)
Acquired from the above by the present owner, 2006

Exhibited

Probably, London, United Arts Gallery, 1882
Fifth Regiment Armory, Art Loan Exhibition, 1900s (according to a label on the reverse possibly 1908, city venue unknown)

 

Literature

Probably, "Art Notes," The Magazine of Art," vol. 5, 1882, p. xxx

Condition

Unlined; recently cleaned, some frame abrasion visible at upper right edge. Under UV: Inpainting to address aforementioned frame abrasion and thin lines of craquelure in the standing figure's dress.
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

During his lifetime, Victor Gilbert established himself as the premier painter of the contemporary Parisian marketplace.  He achieved considerable success at the 1880 Salon when he was awarded a second class medal for his painting A Corner of the Fish Market (Musée des Beaux-Arts, Lille). 

Gilbert’s interest in the activities of the Paris fish markets in Les Halles likely prompted him to investigate the market’s precursor, the harbor.  The fish harbor and market became Gilbert’s most prized settings and The Arrival of the Fishing Boats is a detailed example of his ability to capture the intricacies of the fishing trade.

After the boats have come to shore, fishermen unload the catch but it is hard-working women who distribute and sort the various types of fish, selecting the best for their market baskets.  Always striking in Gilbert’s fishing scenes, whether at the market or along the shore, is his exactitude in capturing the sheen and opacity of the bodies and scales of sea life.