EDOUARD VUILLARD | Le Père de Ker-Xavier Roussel

Estate of the Artist
Georges Maratier, Paris
Georges Renand, Paris (acquired by 1945)
Sale: Drouot-Montaigne, Paris, 4th December 1998, lot 22
Galerie Bellier, Paris
Acquired from the above circa 1999-2001

Paris, Musée de l'Orangerie, 1949-1950, no. 263

Jacques Salomon 'Propos sur l'amitié de K.-X. Roussel et Edouard Vuillard' in Edouard Vuillard, K.-X. Roussel (exhibition catalogue), Haus der Kunst, Munich & Musée de l'Orangerie, Paris, 1968
Stuart Preston, Edouard Vuillard, New York, 1987
Antoine Salomon & Guy Cogeval, Vuillard, Catalogue critique des peintures et pastels, Skira et Wildenstein Institute, Paris, 2003, vol. I, no. II-20, illustrated in colour p. 86

The canvas is strip lined. Inspection under UV light reveals a layer of varnish, preventing the UV light from fully penetrating, however there appears to be minor spots of retouching to the composition, as well as a larger area of retouching to the leg of the sitter (approximately measuring 4 by 6cm). There is an area of retouching in the upper left corner, a vertical line of retouching to the lower right edge (approximately 10cm. long), and a horizontal line of retouching (approximately 6cm. long) to the centre of the left edge. There are fine lines of horizontal craquelure to the dark pigment of the sitter's clothes, all of which appear to be stable. This work is in overall fairly good condition.
"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."

In 1884, after his father’s death, Vuillard was awarded a scholarship to the prestigious Lycée Condorcet, where he met Ker-Xavier Roussel. The two would eventually co-found Les Nabis, the brotherhood of artists who through Paul Gauguin’s influence would create emotionally and spiritually charged works of art. Roussel and Vuillard formed a lifelong friendship, further solidified by Roussel’s marriage to Marie Vuillard, the artist’s sister. The present work depicts Ker-Xavier Roussel’s father, Xavier Roussel, a physician.