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Jacques Antoine Marie Lemoine
Description
- Jacques Antoine Marie Lemoine
- Portrait of a young woman, with a ribbon and an ostrich feather in her hair
- Black and white chalk and stumping and gray wash;
signed and dated lower right in pencil: Lemoine Del./1796 - 9 13/16 x 8 5/16 inches
Provenance
where acquired by the present owner
Literature
N. Jeffares, 'Jacques-Antoine-Marie Lemoine (1751-1824)', Gazette des Beaux-Arts, vol. CXXXIII, February 1999, p. 118, no. 136, reproduced p. 118, cited p. 135
Condition
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
It seems that while Lemoyne was training in the studio of Jean-Jacques Lagrenée (1737-1821), he was encouraged by his master to specialize in portraiture. Relatively little else is known of the artist's life, but he is generally thought to have studied next with Maurice Quentin de La Tour, in around 1777. As Neil Jeffares, who has dedicated two important and exhaustive studies to Lemoine's life and works (see Literature), has observed ‘There is a certainly stylistic evidence for his studying under La Tour, most notably in the remarkable intensity of the sitter’s gaze captured in so many of his portraits.’ 2
In his mature portraits, Lemoine attained a remarkable level of quality and refinement of execution, characterized by the subtle range of nuances that he achieved through his very personal use of his chosen media.
1 N. Jeffares, op. cit., 1999, p. 75
2 Ibid., p. 62