Edouard Henri Théophile Pingret

(French, 1788-1875)

Rebecca, from Walter Scott's "Ivanhoe," 1827

oil on canvas

signed Ed de Pingret and dated (lower right); signed and inscribed à St. Quentin (on the stretcher)

46 x 35 1/2 in. (117 x 90 cm.)

This lot is located in Philadelphia.

Provenance:

Sold: Sotheby's, New York, October 18, 2000, Lot 130

Exhibited:

Douai, Salon de Douai, 1827, no. 278

Cambrai, Salon de Cambrai, 1828, no. 147

Literature:

Les Salons retrouvés, éclat de la vie artistique dans la France du Nord 1815-1848, vol. II, 1993, p. 144

Charles Gabet, Dictionnaire des artistes de l'Ecole Française du 19ième siècle, 1831, p. 562 (incorrectly dated 1825)

Lot note:

The historical tales of Walter Scott were extraordinarily popular in early 19th century France. They brought to the historical novel a new authenticity, believable characters and exciting plot lines. In the 1820s and 1830s many French artists, particularly those of a younger generation seeking an alternative to classical art and subjects found inspiration in them. The subject of this painting is taken from Scott’s Ivanhoe (published in 1820), chapter XXXI. At the siege of the castle of Torquilstone the beautiful Rebecca, daughter of Isaac the Jew, is abducted by the Norman Templar, Sir Brian de Bois-Guilbert. Here, the terrified woman appears ready to leap from the window to escape her abductor, as the Templar attempts to pull her back to him.

Rebecca, from Walter Scott's "Ivanhoe," 1827