Property from a Private Collection, Japan

Jean-Baptiste Greuze

'Le Petit Mathématicien'

VAT reduced rate

Lot Closed

December 5, 03:21 PM GMT

Estimate

50,000 - 70,000 GBP

Lot Details

Description

Property from a Private Collection, Japan

Jean-Baptiste Greuze

Tournus 1725 - 1805 Paris

'Le Petit Mathématicien'

oil on canvas

unframed: 46.2 x 38.3 cm.; 18 1/4 x 15 1/8 in.

framed: 84 x 76 cm.; 33 x 29 7/8 in.

The canvas is lined, the paint surface is clean and the varnish is clear and even. There is quite a distinct network of craquelure visible throughout. Inspection under ultraviolet light reveals some fine lines of retouching to disguise the appearance of some of this craquelure, largely in the boy's hair and also in his eyes. There is some broader retouching to the background, particularly in the upper right corner and along the lower margin. The painting presents well in its current state and is in overall good condition.

The lot is sold in the condition it is in at the time of sale. The condition report is provided to assist you with assessing the condition of the lot and is for guidance only. Any reference to condition in the condition report for the lot does not amount to a full description of condition. The images of the lot form part of the condition report for the lot. Certain images of the lot provided online may not accurately reflect the actual condition of the lot. In particular, the online images may represent colors and shades which are different to the lot's actual color and shades. The condition report for the lot may make reference to particular imperfections of the lot but you should note that the lot may have other faults not expressly referred to in the condition report for the lot or shown in the online images of the lot. The condition report may not refer to all faults, restoration, alteration or adaptation. The condition report is a statement of opinion only. For that reason, the condition report is not an alternative to taking your own professional advice regarding the condition of the lot. NOTWITHSTANDING THIS ONLINE CONDITION REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE/BUSINESS APPLICABLE TO THE RESPECTIVE SALE.

Probably Count Nicolas Demidoff (1773–1828), Villa San Donato, Florence;
Thence by descent to his son, Anatole N. Demidoff, Prince of San Donato (1812–1870), Villa San Donato, Florence;
His sale (‘Collections de San Donato’), Paris, Pillet, 26 February 1870, lot 114 (‘L'Etude’);
Count Potocki, Warsaw;
Prince Yousoupoff, Saint Petersburg, before 1905;
With Wildenstein, Buenos Aires, by 1946;
From whom purchased, in 1948, by a private collector;
By whom anonymously sold (‘Property of a Family Collection’), New York, Sotheby's, 14 January 1988, lot 212, for $115,500;
Anonymous sale (‘The Arts of France Sale’), New York, Christie's, 21 October 1997, lot 88, where acquired.

Probably J. Martin and C. Masson, Catalogue raisonné de l'œuvre peint et dessiné de Jean-Baptiste Greuze. Suivi de la liste des gravures exécutées d'après ses ouvrages, Paris 1905, p. 35, cat. nos 497 and 498.

ENGRAVED
Ed. Hedouin.

Buenos Aires, Wildenstein, 13–25 September 1948 (according to a label on the reverse).