Charles Victor Thirion

Acquired through the Prendergast Bequest, 1891

Probably, Paris, Salon des Artistes Français, 1874, no. 1709

Probably, Émile Bellier de la Chavignerie, and Louis Auvray, Dictionnaire Général des Artistes de l'École Française, Paris, n.d., vol. 2, p. 565
Probably, Le Monde Illustré, Paris, 1874, vol. XXXV, p. 58
Probably, Nestor Paturot, Le Salon de 1874, Paris, 1874, p. 247-8
Descriptive Catalogue of the Art Gallery of the James Prendergast Library Association, Jamestown, 1906, no. 20 (as Industry and incorrectly attributed to Eugène Romain Thirion) 
Katherine E. Manthorne, The Mirror Up to Nature: A Catalogue of 19^th and 20^th Century Paintings in the Collection of The James Prendergast Library Association, Jamestown, New York, 1982, p. 51 (as Industry and incorrectly attributed to Eugène Romain Thirion)

The following condition report was kindly provided by Simon Parkes Art Conservation, Inc.: This work has been restored and is generally in good condition. The canvas is mounted onto a piece of board. Although there is some unevenness to the surface, particularly in the upper left and in the center right, the paint layer is stable and the canvas can remain on this support. The paint layer is clean, varnished and retouched. Under ultraviolet light, one can see a few spots of retouching to the right of her left forearm, in her lips beneath her nose, in the shadow of her cheek on the left side of the face, and around the rim of her hat. There are a couple of random spots of retouching above and in the spindle in the lower left, and in the upper left, upper center and upper right. The hands show no retouches. The work can be hung as is.
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.

William Bouguereau was not only one of the most successful artists of the nineteenth century but one of its most influential teachers at both the École des Beaux-Arts and the Académie Julian. Among his early students were Leon Perrault, Alfred-Francois Delobbe, Gustave Jacquet, Guillaume Seignac and Charles Victor Thirion.  Thirion not only followed Bouguereau’s Academic technique but choice of subject, sending compositions of young peasant women absorbed in their daily tasks to the Salon.  The artist soon attracted the attention of powerful dealer Goupil who acquired dozens of the artist’s works through the 1870s with a significant number soon delivered to American collectors.