Of Royal and Noble Descent

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Lot 53
  • 53

Abraham-Louis Rodolphe Ducros (Yverdon 1748 -1810 Lausanne) and Giovanni Volpato (Bassano 1735 - 1803 Rome)

Estimate
20,000 - 30,000 GBP
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Description

  • Five views from the series Vues de Rome et ses environs: A) Giardini di Villa MediciB) Arco di Settimio SeveroC) Veduta del PantheonD) Tempio di Antonino E FaustinaE) Piazza del Campidoglio
  • All watercolour over etched outline;

    A) bears location on the original mount in the centre:  VILLA MEDICI and numbered in pen and brown ink on the mount, lower left:  309

    B) inscribed in pen and brown ink, lower left:  L'e Arc de Septimie Severe and also inscribed in pen and brown ink on the original mount:  L'arc de Septime Severe and signed in pen and brown ink on the mount, lower left:  Ducros et Volpato 

    C) inscribed in pen and brown ink, centre of the original mount:  Le Pantheon and numbered and signed on the mount, lower left:  805 Ducros et Volpato

    D) inscribed in pen and brown ink on the original mount in the centre:  Le Temple l'artorium et Faustine and numbered and signed on the mount, lower left:  804 Ducros et Volpato and also signed within the lines of the mount in pen and black ink :  DuCros et Volpato f. Rome

    E)  bears inscription on the original mount in the centre:  L'INTERIEUR DU CAPITOLE

Condition

A) With original decorative border/mount. Overall in good condition. Few tiny fox marks located in the upper section of the sheet, a larger more prominent brown stain in the upper centre of the sheet. Otherwise colours remain strong and vibrant. B) With original decorative border/mount. Staining around the decorative border. There is a horizontal stain at the upper margin running from the centre of the sheet to the right corner. Colours are still fresh and vibrant. C) With original decorative border/mount. Sheet has a number of vertical creases. Some staining in the upper left section. Colours are relatively strong. D) With original decorative border/mount. Some light staining in upper left section. Light staining around the edges of the mount. Colours remain fairly strong. E) With original decorative border/mount. Some staining around edges of mount. Few scattered fox marks in the sky. Colours still fresh and vibrant. For all sales which take place on or after 1 February 2015, please note that the rate of buyer's premium for each lot (charged as a percentage of the hammer price achieved for that lot) has been revised and shall be calculated at the thresholds set out below: Buyer's premium is 25% of the hammer price up to and including £100,000; Buyer's premium is 20% of the hammer price on any amount in excess of £100, 000 up to and including £1,800,000; Buyer's premium is 12% of the hammer price on any amount in excess of £1,800,000. As stated above, the revised thresholds are effective as of 1 February 2015.
"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."

Catalogue Note

In 1780 Ducros went into business with Giovanni Volpato, who was already well known, in order to sell picturesque souvenirs to tourists.  The works which they sold under the title Vues de Rome et de ses environs were unusual for their large format and were generally produced from a carefully etched outline which was hand-coloured by studio assistants working from an original watercolour by one of the masters.  For a full discussion on Ducros and Volpato's collaboration see, Images of the Grand Tour, Louis Ducros 1748-1810, exhib. cat., Kenwood, The Iveagh Bequest and other locations, 1985-6.