Victor Gabriel Gilbert

Estate of Gladys D. Pew
Private Collection, Chicago

The canvas has been relined. There is some scattered retouching visible under ultraviolet light, notably to the edges of the sky, water, and lighter areas of the nearer figure's dress. The work is overall in good condition, with rich colours and strong impasto, and ready to hang. Held in a decorative, gold-painted moulded plaster and wood frame with a cream slip.
"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."

Gilbert's picturesque Parisian scenes take place in the streets, markets and parks of Paris as well as in refined and intimate interiors. The plein-air light and feathery brushwork that define his genre scenes demonstrate the stylistic impact of Impressionism, framed by the naturalism of the late nineteenth century.

In the present work, two young élégantes in the latest fashions calmly scrutinise their potential purchase of a vibrant bouquet. The viewer in turn observes the young women, as captivatingly dressed in pastel hues as the flora that surrounds them. One senses the industrious bustle of this flower market on the banks of the Seine, and is drawn into the plein-air immediacy by the cascading flowers to the lower right that invitingly usher the observer into the scene.