Pierre-Auguste Renoir

Sale: Sotheby's, London, 30th April 1969, lot 44
Purchased at the above sale by the present owners

Ambroise Vollard, Tableaux, Pastels et Dessins de Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Paris, 1918, no. 611, illustrated pl. 155
Ambroise Vollard, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Paintings, Pastels and Drawings, San Francisco, 1989, no. 611, illustrated p. 155

The canvas is lined. There are no signs of retouching visible under UV light. Apart from one tiny pinhead-sized paint loss in the extreme lower left corner, this work is in very good condition. Colours: Overall very accurate.
"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."

Painted circa 1912, the present work is a rare example of a highly finished set of studies executed when Renoir was living in Cagnes on the Riviera. This beautiful combination highlights the extraordinary ability of the artist to excel in a number of different fields - from the intricacy of the still-life to the bold, southern colours of the landscape in the lower half of the work. The large majority of these canvases were eventually cut up by his dealer, Ambroise Vollard, to sell individually but in this rare instance, this work is unscathed, and represents a stunning insight into the mind and the studio of Pierre-Auguste Renoir.

FIG. 1, The artist at his easel, circa 1916