Jean-Jules-Antoine Lecomte du Noüy (French, 1842-1923)

Alexander the Great Before the Tomb of Achilles
oil on canvas
signed Jean du Noüy Pinxit (lower right)
75 5/8 x 44 inches.

Note:

This painting was possibly exhibited at the Paris Salon of 1912, no. 1097. It appears to be nearly identical to the painting titled Alexandre au tombeau d’Achille by Jean-Jules-Antoine Lecomte du Noüy exhibited at the 1912 Salon as illustrated in the Granger Historical Picture Archive. The only visible discrepancies between Lecomte du Noüy’s Salon painting and lot 119 appear on the figure of Achilles in the upper-right quadrant. In lot 119, Achilles’ face is more masculine in appearance, and his right hand grasping the sword is absent from the Salon painting, which, by contrast, presents a softer and more feminine rendition of the Greek hero, his cloak culminating in a high collar that is absent in lot 119. According to Roger Diederen’s catalogue raisonné of Lecomte du Noüy’s work, the painting’s original giltwood frame bore the carved inscription Honorer les héros engender des Héros/ Avant de combattre les Perses/ Alexandre sacrifie au tombeau d’Achille/ H.C.; we are unable to determine whether this lot’s period and stylistically correct giltwood frame is original, as it lacks a carved inscription but has been restored. It is possible that lot 119 is, in fact, the restored painting and frame exhibited by Lecomte du Noüy at the 1912 Paris Salon or a very fine period copy. The stamp to the canvas reading Hardy-Alan/ G. Vasseur Succ./ 72 Bould. Raspail 72/ Paris/ Fab. de Toiles & Couleurs Fines/ Ateliers à Vanves suggests at least that the painting was executed between 1910 and 1923, during which period G. Vasseur managed Hardy-Alan, a leading supplier of canvas and art supplies at 72 Boulevard Raspail in Paris.

Provenance:

Sold DuMouchelles, Detroit, 16 November 2014, Lot 112016

(Possibly) Exhibited:

Paris Salon, 1912, no. 1097

Literature:

Salon de 1912 Catalogue Illustré, Société des Artistes Français, 1912, no. 1097

Diederen, R.M.H., Catalogue Raisonné of Works by Jean Lecomte du Noüy, Dahesh Museum of Art, New York, 2004, p. 213, no. 320

“Alexandre au tombeau d’Achille by Jules Lecomte du Nouy.” Granger Historical Picture Archive, no. 0821325. Agence Roger Viollet. https://granger.com/results.asp?image=0821325&itemw=4&itemf=0001&itemstep=1&itemx=6

“British artists’ suppliers, 1650-1950.” National Portrait Gallery, London. https://www.npg.org.uk/research/programmes/directory-of-suppliers/h

Frame: 98 x 62 3/8 inches. The canvas stamped Hardy-Alan/ G. Vasseur Succ./ 72 Bould. Raspail 72/ Paris/ Fab. de Toiles & Couleurs Fines/ Ateliers à Vanves.
The frame comes apart into sections for moving. It has typical chips, age cracks, small gilt losses with exposed gesso and touched-up areas with gold paint. Somewhat fragile and requires care when moving but intact and can support the picture. Section of molded trim detached but present from one side of the frame. The canvas in overall fine condition without significant repairs or overpainting. Craquelure throughout, heavier at the top above Alexander's head. Separations in the paint layer on the back of his right arm, the back of his left knee and around his buttocks. Small paint loss near the center bottom edge; tiny paint flake loss to the right of the red-figured oinochoe, tiny paint flake losses near the center top edge.
https://granger.com/results.asp?image=0821325&itemw=4&itemf=0001&itemstep=1&itemx=6

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European Furniture and Decorative Arts

Jean-Jules-Antoine Lecomte du Noüy (French, 1842-1923)

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