Lot 28
  • 28

Jacques Majorelle

Estimate
50,000 - 70,000 GBP
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Description

  • Jacques Majorelle
  • Village in the Atlas
  • signed, located, dated and dedicated au docteur Caillères / amical souvenir / 1946 / j. Majorelle  / irer noudra lower right 
  • gouache on board
  • 77.5 by 89cm., 30½ by 35in.

Provenance

Doctor Caillères, Marrakech (Majorelle's dentist and friend; a gift from the artist in 1946); thence by descent

Condition

The board is flat, even and ensuring a stable support. There is a pattern of hairline craquelure in the sky, as visible in the catalogue illustration - however this is not too distracting. Ultra-violet light reveals no visible sign of retouching. This work is in good condition and ready to hang. Presented glazed, in a beige wooden frame.
"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."

Catalogue Note

Majorelle first set eyes on Morocco in 1917 at the age of thirty-one. Landing at Tangiers, he was immediately captivated by the country's light, atmosphere, topography and people, and would eventually spend the rest of his life there. In 1923 he began work on his villa in Marrakech, built in the Moorish style, and whose landscaped tropical gardens, restored by Yves Saint-Laurent and Pierre Bergé, are now a world-famous destination. Retracing the steps of Eugène Delacroix, the first French Orientalist to visit Morocco in 1832, Majorelle introduced a whole new pictorial language to the genre, founded on the latest artistic currents and notably the work of Henri Matisse. Adopting a fresh style and painting in plein air, he took a particular interest not only in depicting life in the Maghreb but in its architecture and landscapes. This view appears to be of the Berber village of Irhir n'Ou Dra, in the Atlas mountains to the south east of Marrakech.



A certificate from Amélie Marcilhac may be requested by the buyer. The painting will be illustrated in the next edition of the Jacques Majorelle monograph by Félix and Amélie Marcilhac. A certificate of authenticity from Cabinet Marcilhac may be requested by the buyer.