Pierre-Auguste Renoir

Alexandre Bernheim-Jeune, Paris (acquired on November 16, 1911)
Josse & Gaston Bernheim-Jeune, Paris (a gift from the above and until December 31, 1916)
Galerie Mouradian et Vallotton, Paris
Viscountess Nancy Astor, Buckinghamshire (and sold: Sotheby’s, London, July 7, 1971, lot 17)
J. Hirst, London (acquired at the above sale)
Mrs. B. Astor, London (and sold: Christie’s, London, June 28, 1977, lot 10)
Walter Klinkhoff Gallery, Montreal
Roy Fraser Elliott, Toronto
A gift from the estate of the above in 2005

Guy-Patrice & Michel Dauberville, Renoir, Catalogue raisonné des tableaux, pastels, dessins et aquarelles, vol. IV, Paris, 2012, no. 2787, illustrated p. 78

The canvas is lined. Under UV light: There is a layer of varnish which obscures reading under ultraviolet light. However, there appears to be a minor area of in-painting to the upper portion of the leftmost apple. This work 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.

Pommes et sucrier underscores Renoir’s deft interpretation of the Impressionist aesthetic, particularly in his ability to replicate the texture of ripened fruit. By this point in his career, Renoir could paint at leisure, no longer heavily dependent on client commissions or the expectations of his dealers. Women and still lifes occupied his production during these later years, when the pursuit of beauty was first and foremost this artistic priority.  

Renoir may have arranged the work in a staged environment, but he enlivens the canvas with seemingly spontaneous brushwork. Pommes et sucrier is a particularly apt subject for Renoir, who began his career painting flowers on porcelain for the Sèvres workshop.