LUDWIG DEUTSCH | Guarding the palace

oil on canvas ; signed, dated and situated lower left L. Deutsch PARIS 1888

Sale, London, 3 November 1977, lot 54;
Probably purchased at the above by Pierre Bergé and Yves Saint Laurent

We want to thank Michael Robinson from J.H. Cooke and Sons for having kindly examined the painting and made a condition report : The painting was examined in strong artificial light, in a raking light, under magnification and under ultra violet light. The painting has been lined with paste onto a linen canvas. There are four repairs to the lined canvas toward the bottom of the picture, two within the shield, one within the robes of the guard, and one in the step on the left. These repairs have been well made. They have been supported by the addition of patches. They are in plane and have relatively little paint loss for their size (approx.4 cm each). The paint surface is covered in a slightly grey varnish. There is a small area of disruption to the paint surface in the column on the right, level with the head of the guard. Examination under UV shows the presence of remnants of old varnish, unevenly distributed and overpaint to the 4 repairs to the lined canvas; to the area around the face of the guard; to the extreme bottom right hand corner and to the slightly distorted paint on the right hand column. There are a few other minor touches thinly dispersed.
"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."

Ludwig Deutsch studied at the Fine Arts Academy in Vienna before moving to Paris. Greatly influenced by Jean-Léon Gérôme, he made many trips to Egypt. Although little is known about his trips, it would seem that several works were painted on site.  Deutsch employed particularly rich and harmonious colours in this composition. The meticulous detail of clothes and accessories matches the exactitude of the guard's expression, both defiant and distant. This gift of observation and exact rendering made Deutsch one of the most important Orientalist painters.

At the end of the 1880s and the 1890s, Ludwig Deutsch painted a series of paintings he entitled "Sentinelle", "Le garde du palais", "Le gardien du harem" etc., representing  richly attired and armed guards, standing at the entrance of sumptuous palaces decorated  with columns, marble statues and coloured tiles.

Some of these few painting are of large format such as the one presented here. The painting from 1892 can also be mentioned, (132,4 x 82,8 cm), sold at New York in 1999, a preparatory sketch of which is included in the auction (see lot 22) or the painting Garde de l'Emir painted in 1893 (130,8 x 82,5 cm), both illustrated in Martha Haja and Gunther Wimmer, Les Orientalistes des écoles allemande et autrichienne, Courbevoie, 2000, pp.203 and 216.