PARIS.- This year’s second prestigious sale of Old Master and 19th Century Paintings and Drawings will take place during the 5th session of the Salon Paris Tableau (13-16 November 2015), on 13 November at
Artcurial. It will be dominated by two private collections. The first, "Rue Galliera", includes an important group of 18th century French paintings and some pieces of furniture from the same period (to be auctioned on 25 November 2015) ; the second will honour the painting of the Dutch Golden Age. Viewings in Artcurial’s European offices in Brussels, Vienna and Munich will take place prior to the presentation in Paris.
«After the wonderful international success of the Louis Grandchamp des Raux collection, sold by Artcurial in collaboration with Sotheby’s, last March, we are delighted to be able to combine two distinguished private collections for this second prestigious auction: « Rue Galliera » embracing 18th century French painting and « A look at the Dutch Golden Age ». Once again they affirm the global importance of Paris in the market of Old Master Paintings and Drawings.» said Matthieu Fournier, Artcurial’s Associate Director and auctioneer.
COLLECTION « RUE GALLIERA » : FINE FRENCH TASTE
Official painter of the hunts of Louis XV, Jean-Baptiste Oudry (1686-1755) will, in particular, be celebrated with two important paintings, both signed and dated : A magnificent Portrait d’homme en chasseur dated 1725 (est. 200 000 - 300 000 € / 223 000 - 334 000 $) is testimony to the painter’s apprenticeship under one of the greatest Parisian portrait painters of the early 18th century, Nicolas de Largillière. The master’s influence is evident in the representation of the subject in open air, in a colourful autumnal landscape under a darkening sky, and the great attention paid to the rich fabric of his clothing.
More typical of Oudry’s painting, the Chienne blanche à l'arrêt devant un lièvre et un col-vert is indicative of what gave him his reputation as a wildlife artist : his keen sense of observation (est. 200 000 - 300 000 € / 223 000 - 334 000 $). He gives us a very lifelike portrait of a dog approaching a hunting trophy. There is a great deal of precision in the portrayal of fur and the sheen of feathers.
Joseph-Marie Vien (1716-1809) is today considered the best of the French neoclassical painters and included Jacques-Louis David among his pupils. Painted during his formative years in Rome, Sarah présentant Agar à Abraham illustrates his already established taste for a certain realism, particularly in his treatment of faces and expressions (est.150 000 - 200 000 € / 167 000 - 223 000 $). Dated 1749, the painting is very much an avant-garde piece of work heralding, in spectacular fashion, the neoclassical movement. The artist’s virtuosity is expressed in his very accomplished portrayal of fabrics and complexions and in his subtle choice of colours. Taken from the Old Testament, the subject is an evocation of the confrontation between age and youth.
The brilliance of Joseph Vernet (1714-1789) earned him, from the 1750s onwards, the role of Maritime Artist for His Majesty King Louis XV, as well as chief artist chosen to represent the Ports de France. Dated 1787, La tempête reveals the ease with which he managed to depict tumultuous waves, stormy skies and ships tossed about by the swell, leading to his success throughout Europe during the Enlightenment. (est. 150 000 - 200 000 € / 167 000 - 223 000 $).
A LOOK AT THE DUTCH GOLDEN AGE : A SPECIAL COLLECTION
Dutch painting will be especially honoured on the occasion of this auction thanks to an exceptional group of paintings from a distinguished French collection, put together after the Second World War. Acquired with passion over three generations, these works reflect a very definite taste for the different genres practised by the painters of the Dutch golden Age : portrait, genre scenes and especially still life.
The centrepiece of this collection is a striking Portrait de femme âgée en buste, an early work from the Young Dutch painter Nicolaes Maes (1634-1693), who was one of Rembrandt’s leading pupils. This oak panel, presented in a remarkable state of preservation, comes from the prestigious Schloss sale of 1951 and is a vibrant testimony to the influence of the master on his student, whose first years were the most remarkable of his career. Estimated at 500 000 - 700 000 € / 557 000 - 780 000 $, this powerful and fascinating work will capture the attention of discerning enthusiasts with its subject’s compelling gaze.
From Jacob van Hulsdonck (1582 - 1647), painter from Antwerp, this composition of Pêches, prunes et raisins dans une coupe en porcelaine bleue de Chine is a perfect example of his expertise at painting still life. This masterpiece of balance and harmony is in an exceptional state of preservation (est. 250 000 - 350 000 € / 279 000 - 390 000 $). Jacob van Hulsdonck had a lasting influence on seventeenth century French painting, particularly on Louyse Moillon, Jacques Linard and Pierre Dupuis.
Corbeille de raisins rouges, blancs et noirs, is a composition of great finesse, completely characteristic of the work of Isaac Soreau (1604 - 1644), who made his career in Hanau, near Frankfurt. His search for perfection in detail reveals the painter’s attraction to the Flemish tradition started by Jacob van Hulsdonck, his master and initial source of inspiration. His mastery of the subject, supported by his unrivalled technique, made him one of the finest painters of still life (est. 100 000 - 150 000 € / 111 000 - 167 000 $).
This collection also includes works by Adriaen van Ostade and many still life paintings from the Dutch Golden Age.
VARIOUS
Old Master Paintings
Art lovers with a particular interest in French painting won’t be disappointed ; the seventeenth century will be honoured with a rare sketch from Pierre Mignard (1612-1695) representing La famille de Darius aux pieds d'Alexandre, preparatory to a large painting commissioned by Louvois and today held in the Hermatage musem in Saint Petersbourg. The subject – the family of the Persian King Darius, come to implore the mercy of Alexander following defeat – is typical of French painting from the reign of Louis XIV and was painted by Mignard in response to the famous painting on the same subject by Charles Le Brun, currently held at Versailles. This sketch featured in the inventory following the death of the painter and was offered by him to Madame de La Reynie, wife of the famous Paris Lieutenant General of Police who "cleaned up" the Cour des Miracles. This painting comes from the collection of an Austrian art historian (est.60 000 - 80 000 € / 67 000 - 89 000 $).
Following the great success of still life paintings by Louyse Moillon (1610-1696) during the sale of the Louis Grandchamp des Raux collection in March 2015, (1 M€ for Pêches sur un plat d’étain and 783 000 € for Nature morte aux bigarades), this sale offers one of the artist’s rare compositions in which she combines figures with representations of fruit, La marchande de fruits is estimated at the more reasonable price of 150 000 -200 000 € / 167 000 - 223 000 $.
Paintings of the 19th century Of particular note is the rediscovery of the Reddition du fort d'Aboukir by Hippolyte Bellangé (1800-1866), exhibited in the Salon of 1824 and illustrating an episode of the Egyptian campaign in 1799. It tells of the surrender of the Turks who had taken refuge in the fort, survivors of the battle of Aboukir, won by Bonaparte’s army. This very large painting is an important testimony to the art of this painter of battles, pupil of Baron Gros (est.30 000 - 50 000 € / 33 000 - 55 000 $).
Having participated in the Salon of 1882, Un deuil by Daniel Ridgway Knight (1839-1924) illustrates the progress and the talent of an American painter who came to discover Paris, to work and to become acquainted with its artists. It comes in a good state of preservation, in its original frame (est. 30 000 - 40 000 € / 33 000 - 44 000 $).
To complete the sale there is a small original masterpiece by Jean-Baptiste Camille Corot (1796-1875), Le réveil, estimated at 50 000 - 70 000 € / 55 000 - 78 000 $. This snapshot reflects the gentle awakening of a young fair-skinned woman that one could almost mistake for a photograph, at a time when photography was just beginning during the 1840s.
