Paulus Constantijn la Fargue

Jacques Bergeon,
his sale, The Hague, Du Mee & Van Daalen Wetters, 28-31 December 1789, lot 11;
Alfred Labouchere, Zeist, 1899

J. Sillevis, Door Holland met de trekschuit. Een tocht langs Hollandse steden en dorpen met de 19de eeuwse kunstenaarsfamilie La Fargue, Utrecht 1976, one reproduced, pl. 78

The paper somewhat browned (evident in parts of the sky in two of the views, but not significantly visible elsewhere). Minor brown mark around edge of sheets, from non-acid-free mount. A little light foxing. One very small hole in one view. Otherwise generally good condition, with fresh, strong colours. Sold in black wood frames.
"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."

The beautiful country house of Brittenrust, near Alphen aan den Rijn, was built in 1720 by Johan Hallungius.  Its name, which means 'British Peace', derives from the fact that Hallungius was for some time resident in London, where he served as ambassador for a German Prince.  The estate was purchased in 1776 by Jacques Bergeon, a lawyer and banker from The Hague, who must have commissioned these remarkable watercolours soon after.  Bergeon was, however, forced to sell the house again in 1790, when he ran into financial difficulties, and thereafter it remained empty, until it was demolished in 1802.  

P.C. La Fargue was the leading member of a notable artistic family, and one of 18th-century Holland's pre-eminent painters, specialising both in decorative wall-paintings and in topographical works.  Although many topographical views by his hand have survived, no comparable set of several large-scale watercolour views of a single property has appeared on the market in recent times. 

The compositions themselves enjoyed considerable popularity, not least with the man who commissioned them.  Bergeon also owned (and presumably commissioned) a set of four versions of the views painted by P.C. La Fargue in oils in the same year, and on the same scale as the watercolours,¹ as well as a set of four watercolour versions² executed in 1780 by the artist's younger sister, Maria Margaretha, herself an accomplished draughtswoman.  In addition, Bergeon's bankruptcy sale contained further views of Brittenrust by Maria La Fargue painted in oil, though these are not known today.  Three of Maria's watercolours did, however, serve as the basis for prints, engraved by Dirk de Jong in 1782.  Lastly, there are two undated drawings of the house by another of Paulus Constantijn and Maria Margaretha's siblings, Jacob Elias La Fargue.³

We are very grateful to Drs. Charles Dumas for his kind help in cataloguing these drawings.

1. His sale, The Hague, Dorschot, 4 November 1789, lots 52-54; three of the paintings survive, two in the collection of the Gemeente Alphen aan den Rijn, the third in a private collection in The Hague.
2. Bergeon sale, 1789, lot 12; now Rotterdam, Museum Boijmans van Beuningen (inv. nr. M.M. al Fargue 1-4).
3. Leiden, Gemeentearchief, and Dordrecht, Museum Mr. Simon van Gijn