THÉODORE GÉRICAULT | Profile portrait of a young boy

oil on canvas

M. Walferdin, Paris ;
His sale, Hôtel Drouot, Paris, 12-16 April 1880, n°128 ;
Jean Dolfuss, Paris ;
His sale, Hôtel Drouot, Paris, 2 March 1912, n°41 ;
Madame Jules Ferry, purchased at the above ;
Her sale, Hôtel Drouot, Paris, 11-12 February 1921 (as an English school) ;
Pierre Dubaut, Paris ;
Gallery Mario Tazzoli, London ;
Purchased at the above by Pierre Bergé and Yves Saint Laurent

Paris, Galerie Charpentier, Géricault, 1924, n°240 ;
Paris, Maison de Victor Hugo, La jeunesse des Romantiques, 1927, n°1262 ;
Paris, Galerie Bernheim-Jeune, Géricault, May 1937, n°53 ;
Paris, Galerie Charpentier, L'Enfance, 1949, n°53 ;
Londres, Marlborough gallery, Géricault, October-November 1952, n°19 ;
Winterthur, Kunstmuseum, Géricault, 1953, n°5 ;
Paris, Galerie Claude Aubry, Géricault dans les collections privées françaises, November-December 1964 ; n°30 ;
Los Angeles, Los Angeles County Museum of Art ; Detroit Institute of Arts, Detroit ; Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia, Géricault, October-December 1971, n°21

C. Clément, "Géricault, étude biographique et critique" in Gazette des Beaux-Arts, September 1867, n°111 ;
C. Clément, Géricault : étude biographique et critique avec le catalogue raisonné de l'oeuvre du maître, Paris, 1868 and 1879, n°117 ;
L. Eitner, Géricault. An Album of drawings in the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, 1960, pp. 34, 39 ;
F. H. Lem, "Géricault portraitiste" in L'Arte, June-July 1963, pp. 77-78, n°4 ;
R. Rey, "Géricault ou l'Archange aboli" in Les Nouvelles littéraires, 12 November 1964, p. 8, illustrated ;
L. Johnson, "Géricault in Los Angeles" in Burlington Magazine, December 1971, p. 773 ;
L. Eitner, Supplément au catalogue raisonné de l'oeuvre de Géricault par C. Clément, Paris, 1973, p. 454, n°117 ;
P. Grunchec, Tout l'Oeuvre peint de Géricault, Paris, 1978, pp. 100-101, n°96, illustré ;
L. Eitner, Géricault, his life and work, Londres, 1983, p. 94, fig. 80, illustré ;
G. Bazin, Théodore Géricault, vol. V, Paris, 1992, pp. 83, 241-242, n°1732, illustré

- would benefit from a light cleaning - relined - matter was flattened by the relining (wears ; and the dark preparation is visible in some areas) - a few thin scratches by the borders - under UV light : * a few small restorations in the background * numerous small repaints visible in the hair, especially on the borders and in the curls. It is possible that there are old repaints not visible under UV light * several small repaints on the face : the right side of the cheek is repainted. * a few small repaints on the neck. Traces of an old repaint more important on the neck. * several small repaints on the costume
"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."

According to Philippe Grunchec, this painting can be dated from the years 1815-1816 due to the colours employed. This date is generally accepted by other specialists, notwithstanding Clement who dates the painting from 1818-1820.The identity of the young boy is not known. It could be the same model as that of the painting Tête du jeune garcon de profil, (Head of a Young Boy in Profile) a work given by Géricault to General Bro, and kept today in a private collection (cf. Bazin, op.cit. tome V, p.241, n°1731).