ÉTIENNE ALLEGRAIN | An Italianate landscape with figures on the foreground, a city and waterfall beyond

oil on canvas

The canvas is lined. A decorative image reads well. There is craquelure visible here and there, like on the shadows in the trees. Inspection under UV reveals a spot of possibly an old repair on the clouds at center. Thin lines of inpaintings are scattered on the trees at center, before the waterfall, on the mountains at center right, before the town, and on the foreground. Areas of retouches are scattered along the extreme right and left edge. Smaller spots of retouches are scattered on the sky and rocks. Painting is offered in a giltwood frame enclosed by a velvet inner liner and wood frame.
The lot is sold in the condition it is in at the time of sale. The condition report is provided to assist you with assessing the condition of the lot and is for guidance only. Any reference to condition in the condition report for the lot does not amount to a full description of condition. The images of the lot form part of the condition report for the lot provided by Sotheby's. Certain images of the lot provided online may not accurately reflect the actual condition of the lot. In particular, the online images may represent colours and shades which are different to the lot's actual colour and shades. The condition report for the lot may make reference to particular imperfections of the lot but you should note that the lot may have other faults not expressly referred to in the condition report for the lot or shown in the online images of the lot. The condition report may not refer to all faults, restoration, alteration or adaptation because Sotheby's is not a professional conservator or restorer but rather the condition report is a statement of opinion genuinely held by Sotheby's. For that reason, Sotheby's condition report is not an alternative to taking your own professional advice regarding the condition of the lot.

Etienne Allegrain, a Parisian painter, joined the Académie Royal in 1677. His imaginary panoramic landscape paintings, most of which were painted between 1690-95, appear to be inspired by Poisson's mythological landscapes. Just like the previous lot, the present lot shows the clarity and symmetry Allegrain created in his compositions. The undulated path invites the viewer to navigate through untamed greenery and a gushing waterfall, until reaching the structured classical architecture in the background.