- 68
Cécile Paul-Baudry
Estimate
10,000 - 15,000 USD
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Description
- Cécile Paul-Baudry
- La sultane favorite
- signed c. paul-baudry (lower left)
- oil on canvas
- 51 1/4 by 61 1/8 in.
- 130.2 by 155.3 cm
Provenance
Serena Wilson, New York (acquired circa 1970)
Thence by descent to the present owner
Thence by descent to the present owner
Exhibited
Paris, Salon, 1914, no. 1559
Condition
Unlined. Work has been recently cleaned. On the reverse of the canvas, there is a 4 by 5 inch rectangular patch at the upper left. Stretcher bar marks are faintly visible, and the canvas is slightly wavy. Under UV: area of inpainting that corresponds to the aforementioned patch, and another spot of restoration at the center of the upper edge and in the lower left quadrant. Inpainting to address frame abrasion at lower left near the signature, and a few scattered dots and dashes in isolated areas of the background. There is some strengthening to her proper left hand and in her head.
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.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.
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.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.
Catalogue Note
La sultane favorite was exhibited in the Salon of 1914 by Cécile Paul-Baudry, a student of William Bouguereau and the eldest daughter of the celebrated painter Paul-Jacques-Aimé Baudry. Depicting a beautiful woman in an atmospheric interior dressed in an elaborate costume and draped in a delicate gauzy veil, this arresting composition was previously known only through a Salon postcard.
The present painting was a fitting addition to enter the collection of the well-known dancer, choreographer, and teacher, Serena Wilson (1933-2007), who helped popularize the genre of belly dancing throughout the United States. A Bronx native, Serena first fell in love with the art form in the 1950s, honing her skills by performing at famed clubs throughout New York City, including the Egyptian Gardens. Serena’s Studios, which she opened in the 1960s, survives today along with The Serena Belly Dance Museum, which houses a unique collection of costumes and dance-related memorabilia that celebrates her long and illustrious career.