Henri Lebasque

Private Collection, Paris
Sale: Renaud-Delettrez, Paris, June 23, 1987, lot 56
Private Collection, San Francisco
Richard Green Fine Paintings, London
Private Collection, Europe (and sold: Sotheby's, New York, November 8, 2006, lot 198)
Richard Green Fine Paintings, London (acquired at the above sale)
Acquired from the above

Denise Bazetoux, Henri Lebasque, Catalogue raisonné, vol. I, Paris, 2008, no. 494, illustrated p. 156

The canvas has been relined. When examined under UV light, there is evidence of repainting to the upper left and upper right corners. A further small area (approx. 1 in. sq) of retouching to the background immediately above Madame Lebasque's hair. Very minor scattered scattered retouching to the canvas. The painting presents very well and is in good 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.

The present work captures a charming and enduring moment shared between mother and daughter. Similarly to the artist’s friends in the Nabis group, Lebasque favored the tranquility of domestic subject matter. Madame Lebasque et sa fille Marthe depicts the artist’s wife and daughter while showcasing his interest in portraying his loved ones in their day-to-day routines. During his career, art critics and curators of the Louvre labeled Lebasque as the painter of "Joy and Light," and the present work is a splendid and validating example of this. Madame Lebasque et sa fille Marthe demonstrates all of Lebasque’s best qualities including his masterful treatment of light, use of a limited yet vibrant color palette and a composition that directs the viewers gaze directly into this intimate moment. The light brushstrokes conform to the influence of Camille Pissarro, under whom Lebasque had studied upon his arrival in Paris in 1885. As Lisa Banner explained: "'Intimism,' a term which best describes Lebasque's painting, refers to the close domestic subject matter in such a manner as to convey the personal nature of his response to the thing painted, and the universal familiarity of home and family. There is a sense of calm infused in Lebasque's paintings which celebrate the fullness and richness of life. In his placid scenes of gardens and beaches, terraces and dinner tables, Lebasque portrays his family in particular, but in such a way that he appeals to a larger sense of family gathering and devotion" (Lisa Banner, Lebasque, San Francisco, 1986, p. 12).

As Lebasque chose to paint those who were close to him, Madame Lebasque et sa fille Marthe is a delightful souvenir of a happy family memory. Banner adds, “But Lebasque's primary concerns were with simple expression of sensuous surface... He achieved an intimate manner of painting those scenes and people most dear to him, which was replete with his personal delight in form and color, heightened by his contact with fellow painters Matisse and Bonnard, but characteristically his own"(Lisa Banner, Lebasque, 1865-1937, San Francisco, 1985, p. 20).