- 497
Pierre Bonnard
Estimate
600,000 - 800,000 USD
bidding is closed
Description
- Pierre Bonnard
- En Bateau. La Promenade en Mer
- Stamped Bonnard (lower left)
- Oil on canvas
- 10 5/8 by 18 1/8 in.
- 27 by 46 cm
Provenance
Succession Bonnard (inv no: 375)
Exhibited
Paris, Fondation Dina Vierny, Musée Maillol, Pierre Bonnard, 2000, no. 40, illustrated in color in the catalogue
Tel Aviv, Tel Aviv Museum of Art, Bonnard, no. 41, illustrated in color in the catalogue
Ornans, Musée Courbet, Jeux d'eau de la source à l'océan, 2004, no. B11, illustrated in color in the catalogue
Tel Aviv, Tel Aviv Museum of Art, Bonnard, no. 41, illustrated in color in the catalogue
Ornans, Musée Courbet, Jeux d'eau de la source à l'océan, 2004, no. B11, illustrated in color in the catalogue
Literature
Jean & Henry Dauberville, Bonnard, catalogue raisonné l'oeuvre peint 1920-1939, vol. III, Paris, 1973, no. 1236, illustrated p. 198
Condition
This work is in very good condition. Under UV light a few isolated spots of inpainting are visible at upper left corner and center of top edge, 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.
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.
Catalogue Note
En Bateau, La Promenade en Mer, circa 1924, is an exquisite example of Bonnard’s extraordinary mastery of color, light and atmosphere, but above all it exemplifies his very particular ability to capture the charming intimacy of daily family life. Bonnard executed very few portraits in the traditional sense, preferring that his figures be placed within some larger pictorial context: "the starting point for any creative urge was often an emotion, a striking interplay of light, colours, shapes or movements that he found expressive or charming" (Margrit Hahnloser-Ingold, in Bonnard, London, 1984, p. 72). In the majority of the titles for these works, Bonnard gave no indication of the names of the people depicted, as if not wanting to detract from his main artistic preoccupation which had more to do with light, space, color and atmosphere. The present work depicts three generations of his family enjoying the invigorating sea air on a boat trip: the artist’s obsession with light made the reflective qualities of water extremely appealing, and boats themselves were particularly interesting for the compositional framing possibilities offered by their many ropes, masts and internal structures. Indeed, the viewpoint employed by Bonnard in the present work is one of undeniable modernity: the close confines of the boat mean that the figures are pushed right up against the picture plane, and it is this closeness that gives the painting its strong feeling of immediacy.
The stunning palette of the present work deserves particular mention. The beautiful blues and purples complement the yellow clothes of the right-hand figure, echoed again in the bright yellow strip of the beach in the background. It is clearly a blustery day, but a bright one too, full of vitality and energy, a feeling very much reflected in the dynamic waves and dramatic clouds.