Ferdinand-Victor-Eugène Delacroix

Tony Mayer Collection ;
His sale, Paris, December 3rd 1957, lot 32 (illustrated in the catalogue) ;
Possibly, Fogg Art Museum, 1963 (according to the exhibition catalogue of Centenaire de la mort d'Eugène Delacroix, op. cit.) ;
J. P. Durand-Matthiesen Collection, Geneva, 1963 ;
Stephen Richard Currier & Audrey Currier Collection, 1984 ;
Their sale, New York, May 25th 1984, lot 295 ;
Galerie Brame & Lorenceau, Paris ;
Purchased by Antal Post de Bekessy from the above in 1990 ;
Thence by descent

Centenaire de la mort d'Eugène Delacroix, Musée du Louvre, Paris, May-September 1963, n°462 ;
Eugène Delacroix, Kunstmuseum, Bern, 1963-64, n°206 ;
Eugène Delacroix, Kunsthalle, Breme, 1964, n°298 ;
Eugène Delacroix, Zeichnungen, Aquarelle, Graphik, Kunsthaus, Zurich, 5 June - 23 August 1987, n°68

Maurice Serullaz, Mémorial de l'exposition organisée à l'occasion du centenaire de l'Artiste, Paris, 1963, illustrated p. 361, n°473

- loose paper held by two spots of glue upper right and upper left - small irregularities on the borders photo slightly more contrasted than the work in reality.
"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."

Great animal painter, Delacroix was particularly fascinated by wild beasts' strength and vital spark. By 1840, several compositions are known on the theme of felines, which become a "true obsession" (cf. Vincent Pomarède, exhibition catalogue, Delacroix, les dernières années, Galeries nationales du Grand Palais, Paris, and Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia, 1998-1999, pp. 77-78) after 1847.

Our watercolor is compared to Lion et Caïman (kept in the Kunsthalle, Hamburg) in the Memorial exhibition catalogue (op. cit. p. 361, n°474), executed in 1863.
In our opinion, our watercolor is also comparable to Lion and Snake (Walters Art Museum, Baltimore) executed in 1846 (illustrated below). If the 1846 composition evokes justice's triumph over malevolence, our watercolor probably simply expresses force.

The dark colors of the cave in the left part of the composition give more presence to the lion painted in a clear palette, thus standing out, confident and ferocious.

We would like to thank the Galerie Brame et Lorenceau for kindly authenticating this work which will be included in the digital catalogue of Delacroix's work in preparation. An authentication letter dater November 9th 2017 will be delivered to the buyer.