ADRIEN JEAN LE MAYEUR DE MERPRÈS | Women at the Beach

Christie’s Singapore, 2 April 2000, Lot 24
Acquired from the above sale by the present owner
Private European Collection 

This work is in good overall condition as viewed. There is some very faint, hairline craquelure, most visible in areas of thicker impasto. There is a possible, minor (media) accretion at the sky in the upper left quadrant. There are a few pinhead sized losses at the bottom right corner of the work. All other inconsistencies are due to the age of the work. An inspection of the reverse of the canvas reveals two areas of restoration at the bottom left area of the work: (i) a horizontal area of restoration along the bottom edge (left side) of 31.5 cm (ii) a 2 cm patch of restoration at the bottom edge (behind the stretcher bar) Examination under ultraviolet light reveals areas of restoration on the work, mostly along the bottom edge (left side) (consistent with the restoration seen on the reverse of the painting), in between the two figures on the left side, and at the floor. Framed, in the artist's original 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.
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.

Featuring a shoreline occupied by lounging Balinese maidens against a turquoise horizon, Women on the Beach by Adrien Jean Le Mayeur de Merprès is an exquisite encapsulation of the artist’s sunlit opus. The Belgian painter found his home on Bali’s coast in 1932, later joined by his lifelong muse and wife, Ni Pollok. In a moment of serendipitous fate, the pair stumbled upon one another during one of Pollok’s Legong dance performances, precipitating a lifetime filled with love, light and movement. A captivating embodiment of the vivacious Balinese culture, Ni Pollok was a prolific mainstay in Le Mayeur’s oeuvre, inspiring his most acclaimed series to date.
Women on the Beach is a spectacular homage to the maestro’s mastery of the intricate nuances of light, capturing the evening colors with incandescent accuracy. The ocean is warmed by the heady sun, with rays veiled and cooled by translucent clouds. In various daubs of light orange, pink and yellow, the pastel tones Le Mayeur utilizes when painting the layered sky are reminiscent of his Impressionist roots. Pink mountains form the outliers of the remote scenery, contributing to the romantic spectacle of the tropical island. Le Mayeur’s expert comprehension of light and color chronicles the sights and sensations of Bali in euphoric detail, a sincere testament to the artist’s enchanted reverence for the island’s beauty.

Under the flushed glow of the setting sun, the Balinese vistas and its women are bathed in hues of orange and yellow ochre. Heated sunrays dance upon their bronzed skin, enlivening the setting with a balmy luminosity. The maidens traverse the beach in groups, each expressed as individualized iterations of serene conviviality. A cluster of palm trees unfold from the right of the panoramas, providing a cooling shade from the sun.

With years of painting under his belt, Le Mayeur reveals his innate ingenuity and practiced familiarity when creating such wonderful compositions, setting each work apart with individual flair. Situated far apart, each group of women are spotlighted in their milieu. The seated maidens are sprawled across the sand, their languorous figures in consummate harmony with the landscape. Stalks of flowers lie scattered next to them, a charming complement to the picturesque pair. Behind them stands three svelte women under a single parasol, each an enthralling sight of refined elegance. Their heads are bound in individual wraps of ruby red and emerald green, a vivid harmony of contrasting colors that testify to Le Mayeur’s chromatic brilliance. Huddling close together, the women are bound in a space of quiet intimacy. Further in the distance is another group, posed in a circle of friendly rapport. By the coastal edge, they draw the eye towards the water, permeating the sedate scene with dimensionality and depth.

Women on the Beach conjures an idyllic vignette of the Balinese seascape enveloped in rapturous sunlight. Surrounded by Bali’s dazzling natural phenomena and its bustling culture, Le Mayeur was immersed in an endless wealth of inspiration conducive for his craft. The maestro dedicated himself to a lifetime pursuit of art, endeavoring to represent the allure of the tropical setting in riotous light.