Mary, Benjamin

Oblong folio (298 x 377mm.), 195 PENCIL DRAWINGS, many captioned, dated and signed by Benjamin Mary, a few heightened with white or gold, all but one mounted on blue paper, captioned and numbered on the mount in ink 1 to 195 (numbers 100 and 131 have been removed, but the album includes one unnumbered drawing pasted facing no. 43 and another drawing loosely inserted), contemporary red half roan, red floral patterned cloth boards, upper cover titled 'Album' in gilt, flat spine gilt, occasional spotting or stains, contents disbound in original binding, binding slightly rubbed

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, where appropriate.
"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."

A LARGE COLLECTION OF PORTRAITS AND COSTUME STUDIES, mostly of Greek women, together with some family groups, men, Turkish women, and Armenian women in Turkish dress. The sitters include members of the Botseries, Mavromichali, Griva, and Kriezi families, together with costume studies and portraits of Greeks from Corinth, Patra, Athens, Hydra, Messolongi, Skyros, Skopeolos, Serifos, Sifnos, Myconos, and a selection of studies of women in Greek theatrical costume.

A book containing facsimiles of these drawings together with biographical notes on the sitters was privately published in 1992; a copy is included with this lot.

Benjamin Mary (1792-1846) was a Belgian diplomat and amateur artist. In 1839 Mary was posted to Athens, becoming the first Belgian chargé d'affaires to Greece, where he concluded a commercial treaty the following year. Over the succeeding seven years Mary produced a large number of topographical views and portraits of people he met during his tours in Greece and the eastern Mediterranean. In May 1846 with his health failing he was recalled to Belgium.