Bernard Buffet

Galerie Maurice Garnier, Paris
Sale: Christie's, New York, 5th May 2011, lot 379
Purchased at the above sale by the present owner

Yann le Pichon, Bernard Buffet, Paris, 1986, vol. II, no. 777, illustrated p. 375 (titled Hommage à Walter Scott)

The canvas is not lined. UV examination reveals two small spots of fluorescence to the upper left corner, the centre of the upper edge and some further small spots to the upper part of the left edge. There is some light frame rubbing to the extreme left edge. This work appears to be in overall very good condition.
"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. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
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."

Magnificently evocative of a windswept summer day on the Cornish coast, Château en Cornouailles (Angleterre) reveals Bernard Buffet’s astonishing ability to convey atmosphere through his mastery of technique. Thickly impastoed areas of paint indicate the jagged edges of fast-moving clouds, whilst rapid brushstrokes delineate the foam-tipped breakers to brilliant effect, powerfully crashing against the shoreline. The ruined chapel in the foreground stands in stark contrast to the formidable presence of the fortified castle behind it, the entire scene suggestive of a mysterious narrative that has yet to fully unfold.

The present work is imbued with a significant additional layer of symbolism and meaning when the alternative title, Hommage à Walter Scott, is taken into account. Already renowned during his lifetime, Scottish born Sir Walter Scott (1771-1832) was the author of a number of epic texts and poems, including the celebrated Marmion (1808), The Lady of the Lake (1810), Waverley (1814), and Ivanhoe (1819). Scott also edited and published texts such as Sir Tristrem: A Metrical Romance of the Thirteenth Century, a re-telling of the ancient Arthurian legend which is so deeply rooted in Cornish mythology. A connection can arguably be made between Château en Cornouailles and this tale of desperate love, which relates the story of Tristan, the nephew of King Mark of Cornwall, who falls deeply in love with Isolde, his uncle’s intended bride, with tragic consequences. Yet Buffet’s sunlit depiction of the Cornish landscape is untouched by any hint of disquiet; instead, the presence of the castle and the ruin - imbued with a curious grandeur through the artist’s magisterial handling - evokes the heroic elements inherent within Scott’s works and celebrations of ancient legends.