EDWIN LORD WEEKS | Wedding Procession in Jodhpur

Sale: Phillips, De Pury & Luxembourg, New York, 22 May 2001, lot 42
Sale: Barridoff Galleries, Portland, 3 August 2007, lot 26
Purchased at the above sale by the present owner

New York, Vance Jordan Fine Art, Edwin Lord Weeks, Visions of India, 2002 (illustrated in the catalogue)

The canvas has been lined and is securely attached to a modern, keyed wooden stretcher. Inspection under ultra-violet light reveals scattered retouching, including: - two circa 3 by 3cm areas in the sky in the upper right and in the ground in the lower left respectively, possibly addressing old restoration; - a circa 6cm diagonal stroke in the background in the upper left quadrant, addressing an old tear; - one small spot of cosmetic retouching in the white fortress in the upper left, possibly addressing old paint flaking; and - some other scattered, pin-head sized spots of cosmetic retouching addressing some thinness in the paint following previous cleaning. It should be noted the aforementioned retouchings have all been carefully applied and are not visible to the naked eye. The signature appears to have been partially strengthened. Overall, this work is in good condition, presents very well and is ready to hang. Presented in a decorative gilt frame. Colours are overall somewhat too yellow and blues are stronger in reality than in the catalogue illustration.
"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."

The present work, which presumably relates to an untraced larger composition, is a spectacular rendition of a procession in Jodhpur, India. The work was inspired by Weeks' second visit to the city in 1887, four years into his journey to the subcontinent. He returned for a second time in 1892, commissioned by Harper's Magazine which subsequently published the account of his travels in a series of articles titled From the Black Sea through Persia and India.

Weeks frequently made use of photographs and drawings to capture the architectural details of the cities he encountered during his travels. With its imposing walls, the fortress of Jodhpur must have made a strong impression on the artist: ‘just beyond the arcades rises the steep bare precipice, defended in places by castellated fort; the precipice merges into a white wall of colossal height, partly of masonry and partly the rock itself; and above the wall rises the castle, like a compact walled city, with pointed spired of temples, tall battlemented towers, and its multitude of red latticed windows. It looks as impregnable as the Matterhorn, and even a scaling party of Swiss guides would find work in reaching the base of the great walls'. (From the Black Sea through Persia and India, New York,, 1895, p. 215) Weeks' trip to India proved to be an immense source of inspiration and his Indian paintings earned him fame and widespread artistic recognition across Europe and America.



The authenticity of this work had been confirmed by Dr Ellen K Morris.