Henri Lehmann

There is an old repaired tear to the lower half of the sheet running from the left edge for circa 155mm and an old stain in the lower right corner. There is some discoloration to the right edge most probably due to an old mount. The chalk medium is fresh throughout.
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.

This attractive sheet of figure studies can be linked directly to a project that Lehmann worked on in 1872, when he was commissioned to execute eight murals for the salle à manger of a hôtel particulier located at 23, rue de Balzac, Paris.  Unfortunately the murals do not survive but a record of the project does due to eight cartoons, now housed in the Musée des Beaux Arts de Lille.¹  Each of these cartoons symbolises a different allegory with Lehmann aptly deciding to portray l'Eau, le Vin, le Pain, les Fleurs, les Fruits, la Chasse, Hygie and la Pêche.
The present lot contains studies for three of these eight allegories, beginning with the contrapposto pose of Les Fleurs (fig.1), followed by a study for the legs of Le Pain (fig.2) and finally two hand studies for Hygie (fig.3).  For a more detailed discussion of this project see M.-M. Aubrun, Henri Lehmann 1814 - 1882, catalogue raisonné de l'oeuvre, Paris, vol. I, pp. 239-243.

1. Lille, Musée des Beaux-Arts, Inv. nos. 1518-1525