LOT #69031 |
Sold on Jun 9, 2023 for: Sign-in
or Join (free & quick)
Robert Le Vrac de Tournières (French, 1667-1752). Portrait of a woman with her son in a park, circa 1730-1735. Oil on ca...
Click the image to load the highest resolution version.
Sold on Jun 9, 2023 for:
$9,375.00
Bid Source: Live: Phone bidder
Description
Robert Le Vrac de Tournières (French, 1667-1752)Portrait of a woman with her son in a park, circa 1730-1735
Oil on canvas
53 x 40 inches (134.6 x 101.6 cm)
Property from a Palm Beach Collection
PROVENANCE:
Whitelaw Reid, New York;
His wife, inherited from the above, 1912;
Her sale: Anderson Galleries, New York, May 2-3, 1934, lot 296 (as Portrait of a woman);
Sale: Palais d'Orsay, Paris, April 3, 1979, lot 44;
Private collection, France;
(With) Alexis Bordes, Paris;
Sale: Rossini, Paris, June 27, 2017, lot 45 (as Portrait of a woman with a young boy in a park);
Acquired by the present owner from the above.
LITERATURE:
M. L. Bataille and L. Dimier, Les Peintres français du XVIIIe siècle, Paris, 1928, vol. I, p. 234, no. 20, pl. XL;
Museum of Fine Arts, Caen, Robert Le Vrac Tournières, les facettes d'un portraitiste, exhibition catalogue, 2014, p. 29, fig. 19.
Eddie Tassel has confirmed the authenticity of this work and its inclusion in the forthcoming catalogue raisonné of Le Vrac de Tournières.
Robert Le Vrac de Tournières was a multi-talented painter who especially distinguished himself as a portraitist. His tender rendering of flesh and facial expressions, which lends a sweetness to his figures, is rivalled only by his exquisite handling of fabric, a technique he perfected under the tutelage of Hyacinthe Rigaud in Paris. The soft, airy palette that hints at the burgeoning rococo style is particularly well suited to the sitters' elegant costuming.
The figure of the child is particularly characteristic of Tournières' style of portraiture, the torso shown in profile, with only the head turned to face the viewer. The extended index finger, borrowed from antiquity, directs the viewer, pointing toward other notable details and figures in the work, in this case, the elegant woman seated at right.
Her elbow rests on a substantial volume, which appears to be a copy of Pierre Charron's Traite de la Sagesse, first published in 1601. In it, Charron builds on the ideas of his idol, Michel de Montaigne, particularly those surrounding the idea of certainty as it relates to learning. Both men believed that a healthy degree of doubt was a requisite for anyone, but children especially, to truly learn, and that education through experience or a well-selected tutor was superior to strictly book learning.
Possibly exhibited at the Paris Salon of 1741 as The education of Telemachus by Minerva, it is unclear whether the work is meant to be read as a pseudo-historical scene of mythological figures in contemporary dress or as a presentation of progressive modern parents, clearly informed by the antique, training their son for a position of state, as represented by the battle helmet that appears below the book.
More information about Robert Le Vrac de Tournières Artist.
Condition Report*:
Lined canvas. Pronounced craquelure throughout. Slight yellowing to the varnish layer. Moderate surface dirt and dust. A very few scattered pinpoint losses. Not examined out of frame due to size.
Under UV: varnish fluoresces green unevenly. Brushy retouching at all edges and in the background in the upper half of the work. Some scattered, more finely applied strengthening to the still life in the lower right quadrant, and to areas of the red/orange pigments throughout. Retouching, overlaid with very dense varnish, along the upper edge of the woman's proper left sleeve. Minor retouching to the figures, comprised of a few small dots on the woman's neck and chin and on the boy's proper right hand and wrist. Some additional finely applied strengthening to the edges of each figure's head, and to a lesser extent, their hands. Some additional scattered, less notable dots and dashes of retouching throughout the work.
Framed Dimensions 64.5 X 51.5 X 4.75 Inches
*Heritage Auctions strives to provide as much information as possible but encourages in-person inspection by bidders.
Statements regarding the condition of objects are only for general guidance and should not be relied upon as complete statements of fact, and do not constitute a representation,
warranty or assumption of liability by Heritage. Some condition issues may not be noted in the condition report but are apparent in the provided photos which are considered part of the condition report.
Please note that we do not de-frame lots estimated at $1,000 or less and may not be able to provide additional details for lots valued under $500.
Heritage does not guarantee the condition of frames and shall not be liable for any damage/scratches to frames, glass/acrylic coverings, original boxes, display accessories, or art that has slipped in frames.
All lots are sold "AS IS" under the Terms & Conditions of Auction.Under UV: varnish fluoresces green unevenly. Brushy retouching at all edges and in the background in the upper half of the work. Some scattered, more finely applied strengthening to the still life in the lower right quadrant, and to areas of the red/orange pigments throughout. Retouching, overlaid with very dense varnish, along the upper edge of the woman's proper left sleeve. Minor retouching to the figures, comprised of a few small dots on the woman's neck and chin and on the boy's proper right hand and wrist. Some additional finely applied strengthening to the edges of each figure's head, and to a lesser extent, their hands. Some additional scattered, less notable dots and dashes of retouching throughout the work.
Framed Dimensions 64.5 X 51.5 X 4.75 Inches
Auction Info
2023 June 9 Fine European Art Signature® Auction #8126 (go to Auction Home page)
Auction Dates
June, 2023
9th
Friday
Bids + Registered Phone Bidders: 4
Lot Tracking Activity: N/A
Page Views: 1,038
Buyer's Premium per Lot:
25% on the first $300,000 (minimum $49), plus 20% of any amount between $300,000 and $3,000,000, plus 15% of any amount over $3,000,000 per lot.
Shipping, Taxes, Terms and Bidding
Charges to be determined based on Actual Shipping Costs incurred. Note: Additional invoice may follow original. Please contact us for more information. Sales Tax information
Terms and Conditions | Bidding Guidelines and Bid Increments | Glossary of Terms
Charges to be determined based on Actual Shipping Costs incurred. Note: Additional invoice may follow original. Please contact us for more information. Sales Tax information
Important information concerning Sales Tax and Resale Certificates. Learn More
Terms and Conditions | Bidding Guidelines and Bid Increments | Glossary of Terms