Pierre Patel the Elder

Classical landscape with ancient ruins, figures in the foreground

Lot Closed

January 30, 05:19 PM GMT

Estimate

15,000 - 20,000 USD

Lot Details

Description

Pierre Patel the Elder

Picardy circa 1605 - 1676 Paris

Classical landscape with ancient ruins, figures in the foreground

oil on canvas

canvas: 20 1/4 by 23 3/4 in.; 51.5 by 60.4 cm.

framed: 28 3/4 by 36 in.; 73 by 91.4 cm.

The canvas has been relined and is planar and stable. The paint layer has been nicely preserved under an even, clear varnish. The subtle colors, particularly in the sky and architecture at left, remain pleasant, as does the loos brushwork in the clouds. There is a craqueleure pattern throughout the canvas which is noticeable to the naked eye, particularly in the lighter areas. Ultraviolet light reveals only a few areas with retouching, mostly along the right edge and some in the darker areas of the foreground, including a few in Joseph's clothing. Overall the painting is in nice condition and can be hung as is. Offered in a carved giltwood frame.

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.

Sir Douglas Blackett, Baronet of Malden Hall in Northumberland, England;
Sale, London, Christie's, 28 November 1965;
There acquired by a private collector;
By whom anonymously sold, Chicago, Hindman, 24 May 2017, lot 9 (as attributed to Pierre Patel);
There acquired by the present owner.

Pierre Patel was one of the most significant among the French landscapists to follow in the wake of Claude Lorrain and Nicolas Poussin in the seventeenth century. Little is known of his life, but there is evidence that he was involved in several important interiors, including the Hôtel Lambert (1646-1647) and Anne of Austria’s apartments in the Palais du Louvre (1660).

Influenced by Claude Lorrain’s luminosity (indeed Mariette described him as ‘France’s Claude Lorrain’), Pierre Patel’s compositions are solidly constructed in accordance with the classical tradition, mixing picturesque and poetic elements, often antique ruins, with a delicate atmospheric quality.

Nathalie Coural has examined the painting in person and confirmed the attribution to Pierre Patel.