Jean-Baptiste Mallet

Anonymous sale, London, Christie's, 10 April 1985, lot 120;
Anonymous sale, New York, Christie's, 28 January 1999, lot 162.

London, Batsford Gallery, Two Centuries of French taste, 20 January - 20 February 1932, no. 31.

In overall good condition apart from some slight surface dirt.
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.

Mallet was a pupil of Pierre-Paul Prud’hon in Paris and a regular Salon exhibitor between 1793 and 1827.  He established his reputation with gouache genre scenes, such as this lot and the following two, depicting fashionable figures in elegant interiors or park settings.  Mallet also worked in oil, often in a style reflecting his awareness of Dutch 17^th century interiors, such as La Visite à la convalescente in the Musée Cognacq-Jay, Paris.