François Boucher and Studio

Anonymous sale, London, Christie's, 9 July 1982, lot 62 (as François Boucher);
With Harari and Johns Ltd, London;
Acquired from the above by a private collector;
By whom sold ('Property of a Private Collector'), New York, Sotheby's, 28 January 2005, lot 292 (as studio of François Boucher);
Private collection, Spain.

The following condition report is provided by Hamish Dewar Ltd who are external specialists and not employees of Sotheby's: Structural Condition The canvas appears to be unlined and is securely attached to a keyed wooden stretcher. Paint Surface The paint surface has a relatively even varnish layer. There are some slight undulations in the canvas. There is a fine pattern of craquelure visible throughout the paint surface, this is secure and is not visually distracting. There is a double diagonal line of craquelure visible in the sky in the upper left quadrant, this measures approximately 11 cm. There is a very small paint loss in the lower left corner which is covered by the framing sight edge. There is abrasion to the varnish along the lower horizontal framing edge. Inspection under ultra-violet light shows several small areas of retouching, the most significant of which include: 1) A band of retouching around all four framing edges, 2) small areas and lines in the trees and sky, 3) small spots and lines in the face, hair and dress, 4) areas of strengthening around the bird, the wall and the flowers and the log in the foreground, 5) two thin vertical lines of retouching running through the hat on the lower left of the composition, the longest of which measures approximately 5 cm. There are other scattered retouchings. These retouchings appear to be minimal in size and carefully applied. Summary The painting would therefore appear to be in good and stable condition and no work is required for reasons of conservation.
"This lot is offered for sale subject to Sotheby's Conditions of Business, which are available on request and printed in Sotheby's sale catalogues. The independent reports contained in this document are provided for prospective bidders' information only and without warranty by Sotheby's or the Seller."

This composition exists in another version, dated 1767, formerly in the collection of Mr and Mrs Thomas Cole, Harrison, New York, and now in the Herzog Anton Ulrich Museum, Braunshweig.¹ That painting has a pendant depicting Venus et les amours.² Both works were engraved by R. Gaillard.

Alexandre Ananoff attributed the present version to Boucher in full and provided a photo-certificate as such, dated 22 June 1975. More recently, in September 2016, Alastair Laing has inspected the painting and considers it to have been executed by Boucher with the assistance of his studio.

1. A. Ananoff, François Boucher, vol. II, Paris 1976, p. 274, cat. no. 645, reproduced fig. 1690.
2. Ananoff 1976, vol. II, p. 275, cat. no. 646, reproduced fig. 1692.