Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec

Alexandre Natanson, Paris (sold: Hôtel Drouot, Paris, May 15, 1929, lot 73) 
Mr. S. Sévadjian, Paris (acquired at the above sale and sold: Hôtel Drouot, Paris, November 24, 1932, lot 15)
Antonio Santamarina (sold: Sotheby, London, April 2, 1974, lot 27)
Private Collection (sold: Sotheby Parke-Bernet, London, March 27, 1980, lot 6)
Acquired at the above sale by the present owner

Buenos Aires, Instituto Torcuato, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Di Tella 1864-1964, 1964, no. 11

Achille Astre, H. de Toulouse-Lautrec, Paris, 1925, illustrated p. 100
Maurice Joyant, Lautrec I, Paris, 1926, illustrated p. 203
Maurice Joyant, Lautrec II, Paris, 1927, illustrated p. 220
Gerstle Mack, Toulouse-Lautrec, New York, 1938, illustrated p. 294
Hanspeter Landolt, Toulouse-Lautrec, Basel, 1955, no. 22
M.G. Dortu, Toulouse-Lautrec et son oeuvre, vol. III, New York, 1971, no. A. 235, illustrated p. 515 (with incorrect measurements)

Work is in good condtion. Executed on buff-colored thin card. Artist's pinholes at top corners. Card is T-hinged to a mount at two places on top edge. Inch to half-inch mat stain around the perimeter. Inch-long tape residue at center of top and bottom edges. Card is time-darkened. 5-10 minor spots of foxing in upper right quadrant.
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.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Executed in 1896, this is an illustration for the fairy tale by Romain Coolus which appeared in the Figaro Illustré, no. 74, May, 1896, illustration no. 3. It is one of four illustrations which he made for 'Les deux soeurs légendaires', whose story is as follows:

A woman and her two daughters lived in a forest. The elder, who was dark and vivacious, looked like her mother, while the younger was blond and placid. When they quarreled the mother always sided with her elder daughter. One day the younger girl went to help an old lady in the forest who was carrying an enormous bundle of twigs. This old lady, who was in fact a fairy, thanked her but refused and told her that as a reward for her kindness, so many pearls and diamonds would fall from her mouth that she would be able to marry a rich man. Later, after the girl told of this encounter, her mother and her sister were speechless with rage and her sister went running off to meet the old lady and offer to help her. The old lady accepted under the pretext of her advanced age. The elder daughter was furious and swore at her unable to believe that she was a fairy. The old woman replied that as a punishment for insulting her and for trying to trick a fairy, vipers and toads would drop from her mouth whenever she uttered a word. But the story ended badly- the younger sister spat up so many jewels that no jeweler wanted them while her sister produced vipers and toads of such quality that museums paid fortunes to have these rare specimens.