Louis-Jean Desprez

Collection Feral, expert (selon une étiquette au verso) ;
Collection Vergues, Carcassone, notaire ;
Vente anonyme, Paris, Galerie Charpentier, 9 décembre 1958 (comme école venitienne du XVIIIe, Marieschi)

Not seen out of its frame. Laid down. Foxing scattered, mainly in the upper part. Original french 18th century, carved and guilted wooden frame.
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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."

Cette vue représente la place en face du Duomo de Catane, avec sa fontaine érigée en 1736 et un ancien obelisque dans le centre. Catane, ville de Sicile, fut visitée par l’artiste en 1778. Deux autres aquarelles de la même vue sont connues, dont une avec des différences au niveau des personnages, dans une collection privée de New York et dans le Centre Culturel Suédois de Paris[1]. Desprez était connu pour altérer de temps en temps les vues et ajouter des scènes imaginaires. Dans notre feuillet la scène sur la place est plus proche de la gravure réalisée par Jean-Claude Richard d’après Desprez[2], pour le célèbre Voyage pittoresque… de l’abbé de Saint-Non, publié entre 1781 et 1786, pour lesquels Desprez contribua largement.

This view represents the piazza in front of the Duomo of Catania, with the fountain erected in 1736 and an ancient obelisk in the center. Catania, a town in Sicily, was visited by the artist in 1778. Two other watercolours of the same view are known, with different staffage, in a private collection, New York, and in the Centre Culturel Suèdois, Paris.[1] Desprez was known sometimes to alter views and to add imaginary scenarios. In the present sheet the scene in the piazza is less crowded than in the other two watercolours, and it is closer to the engraving made by Jean-Claude Richard after Desprez[2], for the abbé de Saint-Non's famous Voyage pittoresque..., published between 1781 and 1786, to which Desprez contributed extensively.

[1]. P. Stein and M. Tavener Holmes, Eighteenth-century French Drawings in New York Collections, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1999, p. 154 - 157, repr. figs. 66, 66.3
[2]. Edition du Metropolitan Museum, New York, inv. no. 1994.219, repr. Ibidem, fig. 66.1