Henri Le Sidaner

1936

Louis Le Sidaner, Paris
Mme Xavier Léon, Paris (acquired from the above in 1946)
Sale: Hôtel Drouot, Paris, May 28, 1975
Galerie Peter Notter, Geneva (acquired at the above sale)
Werner Fessler, Rheinau, Germany
Galerie L'Île de France, Paris
Sale: Auction Gallery Germann, Zurich, May 20, 1981, lot 54
Galerie Taménaga, Paris
Galerie de la Cour, Paris
Sale: Christie's, New York, May 18, 1983, lot 360
Arno Schefler, New York (acquired at the above sale)
Sale: Christie's, New York, May 8, 2003, lot 166
Acquired at the above sale

Paris, Musée Galliéra, Rétrospective Henri Le Sidaner, 1948, no. 56

Yann Farinaux-Le Sidaner, Le Sidaner, L'Oeuvre peint et gravé, Paris, 1989, no. 763, illustrated p. 278

This work is in very good condition. The canvas is unlined. The colors are rich and vibrant and the impasto is well preserved. Minor frame abrasion is visible at the center of the left edge. Under UV light certain original pigments fluoresce and a thick layer of varnish is difficult to read through, however no inpainting is readily apparent.
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.

Jean-Jacques Rousseau, the Swiss-born philosopher, writer, and political theorist lived in this house in Chambéry with Madame de Warrens, his lover and benefactor, between 1736 and 1742. In Chambéry, he gained a deep appreciation for the natural world. His praise of nature recurs throughout his later writings, including Emile (1762) and The Social Contract (1762). The present work emphasizes Henri Le Sidaner’s shared admiration for the quiet countryside: “There are scarcely any people in his landscapes, gardens, squares and streets; the dominant impression is one of tranquility and inner composure” (Ingrid Mössinger & Karin Sagner, Henri Le Sidaner: A Magical Impressionist, Chemnitz, 2009, p. 39).