Old Master and 19th Century Paintings & Drawings, Sale 13 November 2008 | News | Artcurial

Old Master and 19th Century Paintings & Drawings

Sale 13 November 2008

23 October 2008

Francisco de Goya (1746-1828)
Los Desastres de la Guerra: Coleccion de ochenta láminas inventadas y grabadas al agua fuerte; Estimation: €20,000-30,000

One of the highlights among the superb works to be offered is a magnificent album of prints by Francisco de Goya: a rare 1863 first edition (one of only 500 produced) of Los Desastres de la Guerra, in excellent condition (estimate €20,000-30,000).

This extraordinary album includes 80 engraved plates inspired by the Spanish War (1808-14) and the Madrid famine of 1811. The album was formerly in the Collection of Louis de Launay – as was an important ensemble of prints by William Hogarth assembled at the end of the 19th century, and including several of Hogarth's major series. The collection, assembled with great care, consists exclusively of 18th century prints on high quality papier vergé.

François Boucher (1703–1770)
Venus au bain (recto) ; Studies (verso): black pencil, chalk & pastel . annotated F.boucher 1762 bottom left; 30,5 x 22 cm; Estimation: €25,000-30,000

The series include A Harlot’s Progress (est. €2000-2500) and A Rake’s Progress (est. €1800-2000), attacking debauchery and gambling; and Gin Lane and Beer Lane, targeting drunkenness with vigorous realism.

The sale also features other examples of Hogarth's remarkable gift for social satire, s he poked fun at every class of society, from the aristocracy (full set of Marriage à-la-Mode, est. €600-800) down to apprentices (Industry and Idleness) via Freemasonry (The Mystery of Masonry, est. €300-400) and the military (The March to Finchley, or Invasion).

The richly varied sale also includes a charming drawing by François Boucher, Vénus au Bain, an initial sketch for a work engraved by Demarteau. The highly finished preparatory drawing is in the Lehman Collection in the Metropolitan Museum (est. €25,000-30,000).

Along with a very fine charcoal drawing by Jean-Baptiste Corot, Venus & Cupid in a Landscape (est. €12,000-15,000) there will be superb works by Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux, Eugène Delacroix, Michel-Ange-Charles Challes, Louis-Ernest Barrias, Gian Domenico Tiepolo and Théodore Rousseau, represented by three splendid drawings (est. €3000-5000). A fine ensemble of remarkably fresh drawings from the 17th & 18th Century Northern Schools includes works by Pieter Molyn, Peeter de Jod, Herman van Swanevelt, Jan de Bisschop and Jacob Matham.

19th Century Paintings and Sculpture

The sale of 19th Century Paintings & Sculpture, starting at 2:30pm, also includes works of very high quality.

Johan-Barthold Jongkind (1819-1891)
Skaters in Holland: Oil on canvas; 47,5 x 63 cm; Estimation: €60,000-80,000

Highlight include three paintings by Johan-Barthold Jongkind, notably Skaters in Holland and Windmills & Boats in Holland, both painted when – after receiving a solid training in Dutch landscape art in his home country – Jongkind arrived in Paris and studied with Eugène Isabey, and began to distance himself from the Dutch academic tradition. These two magnificent works reflect Jongkind's skill and sensitivity; Manet later dubbed him the "father of the modern landscape" (est. €60,000-80,000 each).

Another of the sale's leading works is a delightful oil-on-canvas Portrait of Désirée Manfred (c.1901-04) by Jacques-Emile Blanche (est. €30,000-40,000). This is a splendid illustration of Blanche's lively yet refined, sensuous style to be found in his portraits of this lady of letters. Other famous artists represented at the sale include Adolphe Monticelli, Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux, Henri Fantin-Latour, Thomas Couture, Eugène Carrière and Rosa Bonheur, with a special mention for Karl-Pierre Daubigny with his Cliffs at Villerville, a remarkable portrayal of the Normandy coast in a romantic, contrasting palette that connoisseurs and collectors are sure to admire (est. €10,000-12,000). There will also be an ensemble of 36 works by Jules Chéret that are in a perfect state of conservation and have remarkably fresh colours; they have never been exposed to daylight (est. €400-2500).

Adrien-Etienne Gaudez (1845–1902)
J.B Poquelin de Molière, Upholsterer, c. 1890: bronze with dark patina. Fonte Susse frères; H. 78 cm; Estimation: €20,000-22,000

Chéret's joyous works seem to take lightness and movement as their watchwords and, with his ability to handle different techniques, he was naturally drawn to the art of the poster, which he helped pioneer. All the lots in the ensemble here reflect the art of publicity during the Belle Epoque, magnificently evoking the late 19th century as shown by the lithograph Les Coulisses de l’Opéra au Musée Grévin (est. €2000-2500).

Sculpture will also feature at the sale, with works by animaliers like Antoine-Louis Barye, Christophe Fratin, François Rude, James Pradier, Jean Boucher and Dalou.

Of particular importance are a fine bronze by Adrien-Etienne Gaudez, J.B. Poquelin de Molière as Upholsterer (est. €20,000-22,000); and a moving terracotta bust of a Young Woman by the leading Second Empire sculptor (and Rodin's teacher) Albert-Ernest Carrier-Belleuse (est. €10,000-12,000).

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