PARIS.- The Old Master Drawing and Painting and 19th century sale organised each year by Artcurial during the Salon du Dessin (22nd-27th March) will take place this year over two days: 22nd and 23rd March:

• On 22nd March : The Gaston Delestre Collection, headed by an exceptional set of drawings by baron Gros will be auctioned off.

• On 23rd March : Artcurial will present works from the Georges Dormeuil collection, passed down from baron Gérard and other amateur collectors.

The estimation is around 2,5 M€ / 2,75 M$ for the two auctions.

"2016 enabled us to take the leading position in France for Old Master paintings and drawings and 19th Century Art and now 2017 is looking to be just as fruitful. In March we will auction the Gaston Delestre Collection boasting two centuries of family passion. This event confirms, once again the international importance of Paris as a drawing capital.” --Matthieu Fournier, Director Old Masters and 19th Century Art Department, Artcurial

The Gaston Delestre Collection
22nd March 2017
The Gaston Delestre collection (1913-1969) gathers over four generations of adventures, meetings, acquisitions and transmission from the 19th and 20th centuries and is presented within two distinct chapters.

The first section of the collection is dedicated to works by baron Gros and his memories by his first biographer, Jean-Baptiste Delestre (1800-1871). The strong interest for the Romantic painter was encouraged by other members of the family and in the 20th century, Gaston Delestre continued to contribute to the rich heritage passed down by his ancestor.

The Gaston Delestre contains a total of 150 lots including 80 drawings by baron Gros and after the graphic arts department of the Louvre, boasts the second most important collection of drawings by the artist. These drawings by baron Gros were at the heart of an impressive study by Gaston Delestre who greatly contributed to making the artist known. He was a precursor of Romanticism and one of Napoléon’s favourites.

Amongst the treasures signed by baron Gros, a brown pen and ink work, Seigneur turc à cheval avec ses deux serviteurs, 1806 showing signs of avant-garde Romanticism and Orientalism which is estimated at 60 000 – 90 000 € / 66 000 – 99 000 $). A pertinent brown wash drawing, Bucéphale dompté par Alexandre, from around 1798 illustrates the impetuosity of the artist’s style and is estimated at 30 000 – 50 000 € / 33 000 – 55 000 $. Another highlight is the rare portrait dating back to 1796, Buste de Bonaparte en Italie a profile made of brown pen and ink. This small format of 6 x 9,3 cm is estimated at 20 000 – 30 000 € / 22 000 – 33 000 $. The works have featured in several major international exhibitions at the Kunsthaus in Zürich (1937) at the Museum of Art in San Francisco (1939), the Palais des Beaux-Arts in Brussels (1949) the Musée de l'Orangerie in Paris (1950) and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York (1952).

The second chapter of the collection reflects the varied tastes of the family and gathers drawings from the Northern Schools of the 17th century (Dusart, Van Ostade, Furnerius…) and works from the ‘Siècle des Lumières’.

Highlights include a sanguine by Jacques-André Portail, Jeune homme se tenant au dossier d'une chaise, (est. 30 000 – 50 000 € / 33 000 – 55 000 $). The heirs of Gros such as Delacroix and Géricault are also present. A stunning crayon drawing of a castaway by Géricault, le Radeau de la Méduse is estimated between 15 000 – 25 000 € / 16 500 – 27 500 $.

Works from the Georges Dormeuil Collection and the succession of baron Gerard
23rd March 2017
On 23rd March, Artcurial will present works from the Georges Dormeuil collection which have remained within his family up until today. The incredible black crayon and sanguine, Homme au bonnet de profil en buste by Jean-Antoine Watteau is is estimated at 150 000 – 200 000 € / 165 000 – 220 000 $.

The sale will also include works from the heritage of baron Gérard who was the first painter of the King Charles X, Le sacre de Charles X à Reims, a gouache and watercolour prep piece for the large scale painting of the sacré is estimated at 40 000 – 60 000 € / 44 000 – 66 000 $ and a very early portrait of the baron Gérard made by Girodet in 1789,is proposed at 15 000 – 20 000 € / 16 500 – 22 000 $.

Works on paper by Boucher, Tiepolo, Géricault can also be discovered and will be offered for sale.