Back
European Furniture & Decorative Arts
|
- Sale 6466
Live
| Chicago
Jan 27 | 10:00 AM CST
Live
| Chicago
Sale 6466
| Chicago
| Chicago
Estimate$8,000 – $12,000
Provenance:
French & Co., New York
Collection of William A. Clark (American, 1839-1925)
Corcoran Gallery of Art (acquired in 1928)
Literature:
Ananoff, Alexandre and Daniel Wildenstein, François Boucher, vol. 1 (La Bibliothèque des Arts, 1976), 305-306.
Note:
François Boucher produced a series of five cartoons for the Beauvais Manufactory depicting the life of Psyche. This scene was sent to the looms in 1741 and was produced until 1770. There were nine examples of this scene produced [1]. The present tapestry is signed ‘Besnier et Oudry À Beauvais’ which confirms that it dates before 1754, during the combined years of directorship of Beauvais by Jean-Baptiste Oudry and Nicolas Besnier. This may be one of a complete set of five scenes that were commissioned in 1746, the other four displayed in the Sala degli Arazzi of the Palazzo del Quirinale in Rome; this scene possibly separated in the nineteenth century [2]. Other examples of this scene are currently held in the collections of the J. Paul Getty Museum and the Musée du Petit Palais, and the Art Institute of Chicago has the left and right sections.
[1] Block, Maurice, François Boucher and the Beauvais Tapestries (The Henry E. Huntington Library and Art Gallery, Houghton Mifflin, 1933), 13-14.
[2] The J. Paul Getty Museum, French Tapestries and Textiles in the J. Paul Getty Museum (J. Paul Getty Museum, 1997), 117.
Illustrated:
The Corcoran Gallery of Art, Antiquities to Impressionism: The William A. Clark Collection (The Corcoran Gallery of Art, 2001), 21 (fig.12).
(Getty example) The J. Paul Getty Museum, French Tapestries and Textiles in the J. Paul Getty Museum (J. Paul Getty Museum, 1997), 108 (fig. A)
Heavily repaired, with patches covering the entirety of the back. The repairs probably date to the earlier 20th century. There is some discoloration showing through to the front where the patches are pasted to the back surface. The tapestry is sturdy, but beginning to split and needs conservation and cleaning. Very faded colors. Scattered small separations and areas of fraying which need repair. Apparently reduced from its original size, based on extant images showing the complete composition of a different tapestry, but still having its original border and signature. Additional photos available upon request.
The physical condition of lots in our auctions can vary due to age, normal wear and tear, previous damage, and restoration/repair. All lots are sold "AS IS," in the condition they are in at the time of the auction, and we and the seller make no representation or warranty and assume no liability of any kind as to a lot's condition. Any reference to condition in a catalogue description or a condition report shall not amount to a full accounting of condition. Condition reports prepared by Freeman's staff are provided as a convenience and may be requested from the Department prior to bidding.
The absence of a posted condition report on the Freeman's website or in our catalogues should not be interpreted as commentary on an item's condition. Prospective buyers are responsible for inspecting a lot or sending their agent or conservator to inspect the lot on their behalf, and for ensuring that they have requested, received and understood any condition report provided by Freeman's.
Please email [email protected] for any additional information or questions you may have regarding this lot.
To request further details about this lot, please email [email protected]
Corbin Horn
Vice President, Head of Department, European Furniture & Decorative Arts
