Maximilien Luce

Private Collection, Belgium (acquired circa 1899)
Thence by descent (sold: Sotheby's, London, February 4, 2003,
lot 15)
Acquired at the above sale by the present owner

Denise Bazetoux, Maximilien Luce, Catalogue raisonné de l'oeuvre peint, vol. III, Paris, 2005, no. 41, illustrated p. 62 & in color p. 13

This work is in excellent condition. It is unlined and has recently been cleaned. Under UV light: two tiny spots of inpainting fluoresce in the upper left corner. Otherwise fine.
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.

Paris, Le pont de l'Archevêché is a bustling view of the streets of Paris, filled with men and women involved in the activities of daily life. Throughout his career, Luce was attracted by the energy and color of Parisian street life. In the late 1890s, he began a series of paintings depicting the bridges and thoroughfares teeming with activity along the Seine. In 1895, he wrote to his friend and fellow artist Henri-Edmond Cross: "I have started a study, or rather a series of studies, of street scenes... I want to render the movement of the crowd, which is fearfully difficult, and I am not having much success" (quoted in J. Bouin-Luce & D. Bazetoux, Maximilien Luce, Catalogue raisonné de l'oeuvre peint, vol. I, Paris, 1986, p. 84, translated from the French). In the present work, Luce seems to have overcome the difficulties and achieved his ultimate goal: portraying numerous figures in different attitudes with a variety of color, creating an overall effect of life and movement. His handling of paint and brushstroke adds to the wonderful vibrancy of the painting.