- 8
Henri Lehmann
Estimate
25,000 - 35,000 GBP
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Description
- Henri Lehmann
- Le Fifre italien
- signed and dated H. LEHMANN / 1863 lower left
- oil on canvas
- 117 by 89cm., 46 by 35in.
Provenance
Sale: Sotheby's, London, 12 February 1969, lot 83 (as a pair with the following lot)
Purchased at the above sale by the father of the present owner
Purchased at the above sale by the father of the present owner
Condition
The canvas has been relined and is slightly undulated and could benefit from a light re-tensioning. Ultra-violet light reveals an opaque layer of old discoloured varnish making the surface difficult to read; however, a few spots of retouching are clearly visible, including some spots in the sitter's hair, in the jacket in the centre of the composition, some thin lines around the left hand and a possible area in the lower right of his jacket. The work is otherwise in good condition, presents very well and is ready to hang.
Presented in a gilt frame with a nameplate.
"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."
"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."
Catalogue Note
Born in Kiel, Lehmann moved from Hamburg to Paris at the age of just 17, entering the workshop of Ingres. There he became one of the master’s most distinguished pupils, with a successful Salon career, significant portraits of figures from Liszt to Stendhal, and commissions both religious and secular. Chief among these was the cycle of 56 scenes painted for Paris’ former Hôtel de Ville, destroyed when the building was razed during the Commune of 1871.
This and the following lot pay tribute to the artist’s stay in Italy. Although he would later take French citizenship, Lehmann’s status as a foreigner made him ineligible for the Prix de Rome, and his 1839 trip to the Eternal City was therefore paid at his own expense. Stunning examples of the artist's precise draughtsmanship, the two works bear witness to the Romantic fascination of French artists for rustic Italian subjects of the Roman campagna.
This and the following lot pay tribute to the artist’s stay in Italy. Although he would later take French citizenship, Lehmann’s status as a foreigner made him ineligible for the Prix de Rome, and his 1839 trip to the Eternal City was therefore paid at his own expense. Stunning examples of the artist's precise draughtsmanship, the two works bear witness to the Romantic fascination of French artists for rustic Italian subjects of the Roman campagna.