- 144
Abraham-Louis-Rodolphe Ducros
Estimate
40,000 - 60,000 USD
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Description
- Abraham-Louis-Rodolphe Ducros
- A View of Subiaco
- Watercolor, heightened with white and gum arabic, over pen and brown ink, on three joined sheets of paper, laid down on canvas;
inscribed in brush and ink on the canvas backing: #4 / Vue de L'abaye de Subiaco / dont Pio VI est encore abé / ony voit le St hermitage de S. Benoit La mission de forteresse ditte la rocca. l'Eglise neuve du Pape regnant / Pio VI / ... and elsewhere on the backing: Subiaco - 32 x 46 inches
Provenance
Sale, London, Sotheby's, 7 July 1999, lot 64;
With Didier Aaron, Inc., New York, by 1999,
where acquired by the present owner
With Didier Aaron, Inc., New York, by 1999,
where acquired by the present owner
Catalogue Note
Pasted to the original canvas backing is Ducros' printed notice, giving detailed advice on the conservation of the watercolor. For another example of such a notice, see Images of the Grand Tour, Louis Ducros 1748-1810, exhib. cat., London/Manchester/Lausanne 1985-1986, p. 106, appendix 3.
Ducros' inscription, the printed notice fixed to the original canvas backing and the fine quality of this watercolor make it a particularly interesting example of the artist's work. In addition, it appears to be the only known view by Ducros of Subiaco, the papal abbey north of Rome. It may perhaps have been executed at the time, circa 1786, when Ducros was making other paintings and drawings dedicated to Pius VI, such as the oil on canvas in the Museo di Roma, Palazzo Braschi, depicting Pius VI visiting the Pontine Marshes, signed and dated 1786, and apparently commissioned by the Pope (see Images of the Grand Tour, op. cit., no. 55.).