BERNARD BUFFET | Portrait de Jean Negulesco

Jean & Dusty Negulesco (acquired directly from the artist)
Private Collection (acquired from the above; sale: Christie's, South Kensington, 30th June 2000, lot 140)
Purchased at the above sale by the present owner

The canvas is lined. Inspection under UV light reveals scattered spots of retouching to the composition, the most prominent to the proper left shoulder of the sitter, approximately 4cm long. There are some further spots of retouching to the sitter's suit and face, most notably three vertical lines within the suit surface, each of which is approximately 4cm long, which appear to correspond to repaired tears in the canvas surface. There are further spots of retouching to all four edges consistent with previous frame rubbing. There are some minor areas of pigment loss towards the lower right corner. This work is in overall good condition.
"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."

Jean and Dusty Negulesco (née Anderson) were darlings of Hollywood’s Golden Age. Born in Romania, Jean emigrated to America in 1927 having studied art in Vienna and Bucharest. Arriving in New York, Jean quickly moved west to find his fortune in Los Angeles. He found work as a sketch artist before moving on swiftly through a number of roles within the film industry, culminating in his appointment as a director for Warner Brothers. His first feature film was Singapore Women in 1941, followed by Johnny Belinda in 1948 for which he was nominated for an Academy Award. It was at this stage in his career that Jean met the actress and famed World War II pin-up Dusty Anderson. Dusty had starred alongside Rita Hayworth in Cover Girl and became renowned for her smouldering beauty following a photo shoot in the American propaganda magazine YANK. By 1946 the couple had married and Dusty began to feature in Jean’s films. Jean’s last film in Hollywood was the 1959 cult classic The Best of Everything. In 1960 the couple moved to Marbella, Spain where they remained for the rest of their lives. Jean is commemorated with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

The authenticity of this work has been confirmed by Ida Garnier & Céline Lévy.