- 120
Espérance Langlois Bourlet de la Vallée, after a watercolour by Gustave Moreau
Estimate
30,000 - 50,000 GBP
bidding is closed
Description
- Léda, le cygne et, l'amour, plaque, circa 1860-1864
- signed Gustave Moreau/ LB de V, reverse impressed 27.70
- faience, mounted in wooden frame
- plaque 27 x 19 cm. (10 5/8 x 7 1/2 in.) ; frame 75 x 57cm. (29 1/2 x 22 3/4 in.)
Literature
Roberto Polo ed., The Eye, London, 2011, pp. 166-167, illustrated
Catalogue Note
This beautiful rendition depicts the Greek Myth of Zeus, disguised as a Swan attempting to seduce Leda, daughter of King Thestius. Gustave Moreau painted at least four versions of this theme throughout the 19th century, the first of which is dated 1846. A closely related version, perhaps the source for the offered lot, was sold: Christie's Paris, 15 April 2013, lot 82.
The initials L B de V are for the artist Espérance Bourlet de la Vallée (1805-1864) also known as Louise Marguerite Espérance Langlois. She was the daughter of the French painter and writer Eustache-Hyacinthe Langlois who initially taught her to draw. In 1834 the Rouen Academy of Fine Arts awarded her the silver medal in 'genre works' and in 1853 she is recorded as working as a painter. Few works by her are recorded but it seems that she often painted from existing works, one known piece was entered in the 1853 Salon listed as, Portrait de Rembrandt; copie; porcelaine.
The initials L B de V are for the artist Espérance Bourlet de la Vallée (1805-1864) also known as Louise Marguerite Espérance Langlois. She was the daughter of the French painter and writer Eustache-Hyacinthe Langlois who initially taught her to draw. In 1834 the Rouen Academy of Fine Arts awarded her the silver medal in 'genre works' and in 1853 she is recorded as working as a painter. Few works by her are recorded but it seems that she often painted from existing works, one known piece was entered in the 1853 Salon listed as, Portrait de Rembrandt; copie; porcelaine.