Berthe Morisot

The artist's estate
M. & Mme. Ernest Rouart, Paris (by descent from the above)
Grover A. Magnin, San Francisco
Fine Arts Museum of San Francisco (gifted from the above in October 1964 and sold: Butterfield's, San Francisco, June 18, 1997, lot 4033)
Sale: Sotheby's, New York, May 14, 1998, lot 110
Hilde Gerst (acquired at the above sale and sold by the estate: Christie's, New York, May 10, 2007, lot 205)
Acquired at the above sale

Paris, Galerie Bernheim-Jeune, Exposition d'oeuvres de Berthe Morisot, 1929, no. 20
Paris, Musée de l'Orangerie, 1941, no. 116
San Francisco, California Palace of the Legion of Honor, Berthe Morisot: Drawings, Pastels, Watercolors, 1960 - 1961, no. 137 

M. Angouluent, Berthe Morisot, Paris, 1933, no. 614
Marie-Louise Bataille & Guy Wildenstein, Berthe Morisot, Catalogue des peintures, pastels et aquarelles, Paris, 1961, no. 379, illustrated as fig. 370
Alain Clairet, Delphine Montalant & Yves Rouart, Berthe Morisot, Catalogue Raisonné de l'Oeuvre Peint, 1997, no. 384, illustrated p. 302

Canvas is not lined and buckles slightly at the center of the top edge. Minor frame rubbing is visible at the extreme top and bottom edges. Under UV light: some original pigments fluoresce, as do areas of uneven varnish. No inpainting is apparent, but one small spot at the top of the figure's left knee seems to correspond to a possible repaired tear on the reverse. Overall the work is in very good condition.
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.

"We made up our minds to go to Brittany just by looking at the little posters in the waiting room of Gare Saint-Lazare...My nieces are with me; we walk on the shore, in the open country and everything would be charming if the place were not pretty, inviting me to paint it" (quoted in D. Rouart, ed., Berthe Morisot, Correspondence, London, 1987, p. 207).

Morisot enjoyed several summer sojourns with her family in Brittany, and painted a number of charming beachside views there, including the present work.   She had hoped that Renoir might be able to visit.  He was very sorry to decline and vividly imagined the pleasure of seeing her daughter Julie playing in the waves: "I am truly distressed at not being able to accept your invitation...Brittany is quite pleasant, not as rainy as Normandy. Unfortunately it is rather far away – fortunately so, because otherwise it would be crowded with dreadful people...And so, enjoy yourself; bring back some of those lovely sea views, which are so beautiful in Brittany, with the water clear all the way to the edge, and white-clad Julies against a background of golden isles" (quoted in ibid.).