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19th Century European Paintings

La Belle Epoque: 10 Great Gift Ideas Under £2k

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The Belle Epoque online sale includes an extensive collection of prints, paintings and photos that would make ideal Christmas presents for a loved one this year. The sale explores the concept of la belle époque, an era known for its cabaret, fashion and the joie de vivre of glamorous Paris at the turn of the century and at the core of the collection is a selection of works from Jane Lady Abdy. One of the most respected female art dealers of her time, Jane Lady Abdy is credited with introducing the British public to belle époque with numerous exhibitions at the Ferrers Gallery. Click ahead to see 10 highlights selected by our experts, with starting bids of less than £2,000.

La Belle Epoque: 19th & 20th Century Paintings Online
29 November - 12 December 2016

La Belle Epoque: 10 Great Gift Ideas Under £2k

  • Walford Graham Robertson, Sarah Bernhardt, watercolour and pencil on paper. Estimate £600–800.
    Sarah Bernhardt was a symbol of the belle époque and the most famous actress of the 19th Century. Her friend Walford Graham Robertson painted her many times and called her ‘the divine Sarah’ in his autobiography.



     

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  • James Tissot, The Portico of the National Gallery, London, 1878, etching and drypoint. Estimate £600–800.
    Tissot was similar to Manet in his half original, half reproductive approach to printmaking and as a result many of his prints do not exist independently from his paintings. He was drawn to the commercial potential of scenes of everyday life and in this work uses monumental public architecture to frame the figures.



     

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  • James Tissot, My Garden in Saint Johns Wood, 1878, etching and drypoint. Estimate £400–600.
    Tissot bought a home in Saint John's Wood in London in 1872, at the time a fashionable artistic hub. He lived with his mistress, Kathleen Newton and her son and described these years as the happiest of his life as he enjoyed being part of a family.



     

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  • James Tissot, Political Women, 1885, etching and drypoint. Estimate £2,000–3,000.
    In 1882, Tissot’s mistress and muse Kathleen Newton died and the apparently heartbroken artist moved back to Paris. Upon his return he sought to re-establish his name in Parisian circles after his time in London by creating 15 large scale paintings of Parisian women through all levels of society.



     

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  • Paul César Helleu, Portfolio of nine etchings, etching and drypoint. Estimate £500–700.
    Helleu was best known for his portraits of societal women and printmaking was the perfect technique as it allowed the sitter to have multiple proofs to give to family and friends. This set includes six cancelled plates, something we see quite a lot in prints - when the artist has finished printing they will mark the plate with a really dynamic mark of their intention for it not to be printed. 



     

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  • Paul César Helleu, Jeune femme assise sur un canapé, drypoint, circa 1900. Estimate £800–1,200.
    The belle epoque artists were often commissioned to create portraits of the bourgeoisie and artistocracy as seen in this work by Helleu.



     

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  • Violet Manners, Duchess of Rutland, Lady Elcho, pencil on paper. Estimate £800–1,200.
    Mary Constance Wyndham, one of the Wyndham sisters portrayed by Sargent in his famous picture, later became Countess of Wemyss by marrying Lord Elcho.



     

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  • Violet Manners, Duchess of Rutland, Arthur Balfour, pencil on paper. Estimate £600,00–800,00.
    Lady Elcho was member of the Souls, an aristocratic circle which included politicians and intellectuals, amongst them Arthur Balfour , Prime Minister between 1902–05.



     

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  • Paul César Helleu, The Artist's Palette, oil on board. Estimate £700–1,000.
    Original artist’s palette don’t come up at auction very often. This is in very good condition and signed by the artist.



     

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  • Adolphe Clary-Baroux, Paysage, oil on canvas. Estimate 1,000–1,500.
    Adolphe Clary-Baroux began his artistic career as a theatre designer, but stated that he was enticed into the world of fine art by the powerful colouring of Sisley. As seen in Paysage , Clary-Baroux was highly influenced by this master of Impressionism in his early career, but later in life became more interested in the complex pictorial conception of Pissarro.



     

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