Louis Jean François Lagrenée

Commissioned by M. Paris de Montmartel, Paris, 1755 (for 600 livres);
With Stanley Moss & Co., New York;
Anonymous sale, New York, Sotheby's, 21 May 1998, lot 127;
There purchased by the present collector.

Paris, Salon, 1755, no. 128 (with its pendant, Mercury and Love).

M. Sandoz, "Lous-Jean-François Lagrenée, dit L'aîné, peintre d'Histoire," in Bulletin de la Société d'histoire de l'art français, 1961, p. 118, note 2;
M. Sandoz, Les Lagrenée, Paris 1983, pp. 166-7, cat. no. 18.

The canvas has been glue relined. The four corners of the painting have been added indicating that the canvas was originally an irregular shape. In addition a strip about 5 inches thick was added along the bottom. An original canvas seam runs horizontally across the upper portion of the painting, through the top of Achilles' head and the upper arms and chest of Chiron. This original seam and the diagonal seams along the corner additions are visible to the naked eye, but not overly distracting from the composition as a whole. There is some thinness to some areas of the brown pigments but overall the painting reads well and presents a strong image. Examination under UV light: the added corner and added canvas strip mentioned above fluoresce. There are a series of vertical retouches across the lower portion of the painting that could be a result of the canvas having been rolled at some point, however there are no corresponding retouches at the upper portion of the painting. There is retouching along the aforementioned original canvas seam. Some scattered retouching on Chiron's face and other isolated ones here and there. Offered in a gilt wood frame with stylized leaf pattern.
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 Greek mythology, Chiron was the most revered of the centaurs, particularly as a teacher and tutor.  Many Greek princes and sons of gods were sent to Chiron for instruction.  A youthful Achilles is seen here taking a lesson in archery from Chiron, a reference to his eventual death by an arrow to his heel. 

This painting and its pendant, Mercury and Love, were commissioned by M. Paris de Montmartel for his Paris house.   According to Sandoz, Mercury and Love is recorded as being in the Princely collection of Monaco since at least 1942.¹


1. See M. Sandoz, 1983, under Literature, pp. 166-7, cat. no. 19.