Fernand Toussaint

Whitford and Hughes, London (by 1987)
Sale: Sotheby's, London, 15 November 2006, lot 282
Purchased at the above sale by the present owner

London, Whitford and Hughes, A Clear View: The Belgian Luminist Tradition, 1987, no. 33, illustrated in the catalogue

Patrick and Viviane Berko, Fernand Toussaint 1873-1956, Brussels, 1986, pp. 32-33, illustrated

Original canvas. Apart from some strokes of retouching, notably in her body around her waist and below her right ankle, a vertical stretcher mark through the centre, and some faint hairline craquelure, notably in her legs and breast, this work is in good overall condition, and is ready to hang. Held in a decorative gold-painted wood and plaster frame.
"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."

Toussaint enjoyed immense popularity among European high society as a painter of women. Whether in his formal portraits or his more intimate portrayals, he rendered the female form with consummate ease and flair, prompting the contemporary critic, Mario de Monchi, to describe him as 'the unrivalled master of feminine grace and charm.' (Berko, p. 5).