LOUIS-LÉOPOLD BOILLY | Les caresses maternelles

Collection Senator Symphor Casimir Joseph Boittelle (1813-1897);
His sale, Paris, Me Pillet, 24 April 1866, lot 6;
Where acquired by Mr. Mason;
His sale, Paris, Me Pillet, 1 February 1875, lot 3 (to Mr. Borel);
Arnold, André and Jacques Seligmann, Paris;
Seized from the above by the Einsatzstab Reichsleiter Rosenberg (ERR) and transferred to the German Embassy, Paris in August 1940;
Transferred to the Louvre in November 1940;
Transferred for restoration to the Buxheim Charterhouse, Bavaria on 14 December 1944;
Repatriated to France on 4 March 1946 and subsequently restituted to the Seligmann family on 8 May 1946;
Anonymous sale, Paris, Me Rheims, 23 May 1951, lot 19;
Acquired by Antenor Patiño (1896-1982), for his house in Avenue Foch, Paris;
Thence by descent, until sold anonymously ('The Property from a Mid-Western Estate'), New York, Christie's, 22 May 1998, lot 131 ;
Private European collection.

H. Harrisse, L-L. Boilly, sa vie et son oeuvre, Paris 1898, p. 93, no. 114.

Le tableau est moins jaune que sur l’illustration du catalogue. A l’œil nu : Le tableau se présente dans un état de conservation satisfaisant. Le tableau a fait l’objet d’un rentoilage ancien. On remarque des usures dans les fonds. Les vêtements et les carnations du personnage principal sont joliment préservés. A la lampe U.V. : Le tableau apparaît sous un vernis vert irrégulier. On remarque des reprises au niveau des craquelures dans les parties sombres et dans la robe de la fillette. On ne remarque pas de restaurations au niveau des personnages. Vendu dans un cadre argenté (le tableau est exposé sans son cadre pendant l’exposition car à notre avis il ne met pas en valeur l’œuvre). The actual painting is a bit less yellow than the catalogue illustration would suggest. The painting seems to be in a fair condition. Under the naked eye : The canvas seems to be unlined or alternatively has a very old and thin relining. Thinness can be observed in the dark brown background. The clothing and face of the main figure seems to be nicely preserved. Under UV light : The varnish layer fluoresces for some parts, showing strengthenings of the craquelure pattern in the dark areas of the background and foreground, and in the clothes of the girl. Otherwise the main figures seem to be rather nicely preserved. Offered with a new plain silver-painted frame (the painting is shown in the viewing unframed as the frame does not really match with the painting in our opinion).
"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."

We are grateful to Mr. Alastair Laing for confirming the attribution to Boilly after inspection of the original and to Mr. Pascal Zuber for confirming the attribution on the basis of photographs in 2011.

In the mid-20th Century this elegant picture belonged to the Bolivian tin mining magnate Antenor Patiño. At one time considered one of the wealthiest men in the world, Patiño maintained homes in Europe and North America, including an apartment on Fifth Avenue and another on Avenue Foch in Paris.