FRANCK INNOCENT (1912-1983). Oil on canvas, signed and dated lower right, countersigned, titled and dated on the reverse. Dedication on the reverse. A member of the École de Rouen, this talented artist offers a unique vision through this canvas imbued with maritime poetry.
A very fine oil on canvas by the painter Franck Innocent, École de Rouen, depicting the Normandy countryside in spring. Signed and dated lower right, countersigned, titled and dated on the reverse. With dedication on the reverse: "à mon épouse, avec mes sentiments les plus respectueux et les plus reconnaissants. 31.12.78. Jean" and "A ma mère, à Vally, avec toute mon affection. Pierrot". Well framed.
A superb oil on panel of a still life with flowers, fruit, a butterfly and a peeled lemon. Black and gilt lacquered wood frame.
Large bronze group after Clodion dating from the 19th century, depicting a faunesse with her two children, one upon her lap and the other reclining, on the theme of Bacchus. The mother offers a cup of wine to the child, the wine flowing from a cask. Green marble plinth. Signed Clodion on the base of the bronze group. Plinth: 35 cm X 26.5 cm
A large patinated plaster bust — Bacchante with bunches of grapes — Signed (Frans...) — Flanders or Belgium — Early 20th century. Striking and expressive, this large patinated plaster bust depicts a Bacchante, a figure associated with the cult of Dionysus/Bacchus, the head tilted and adorned with bunches of grapes. The sculpture captivates with its scale, its movement, the charm of its dreamy face and the rich treatment of volumes typical of late Art Nouveau productions. Acquired in Belgium, this piece bears a barely legible incised signature in which the first name Frans is however clearly identifiable, pointing to a Belgian or Flemish sculptor active around the early 20th century. Fine patina. Circa 1920.
An original intaglio print by Leonor Fini, hand-signed in pencil by the artist, lower right. A sensual and theatrical scene depicting two nude women in an intimate composition, characteristic of Leonor Fini's dreamlike universe. Impression on fine-quality Japon paper, with a delicate moiré aspect. Well-marked platemark, clean impression, revealing a careful printing. Presented in a black and silvered wood frame, between two glass plates. Very good condition.
An elegant pastel on paper depicting Leda and the Swan, inspired by the antique myth in which Zeus takes the form of a swan to seduce Leda. The subject is treated here with great gentleness and a Romantic sensibility typical of the early decades of the 19th century. The delicate modelling of the face, the subtle palette and the oval format lend this composition an intimate and refined atmosphere. Period 19th-century gilt frame with its original blue paper backing.
An important antique plaster bust with terracotta patina, depicting Mademoiselle Luzy, the celebrated 18th-century actress and emblematic figure of the Comédie-Française. This model is an edition after the original sculpture by Jean-Jacques Caffieri (1725-1792), the great Neoclassical sculptor known for his busts of great literary, theatrical and intellectual figures such as Voltaire, Diderot and Rousseau. The bust bears the stamp of the City of Versailles, attesting to institutional provenance and an early edition of quality. The execution stands out for the quality of the modelling, the precision of the detail of the coiffure and the elegance of the drapery typical of Neoclassical style. Very good general condition. Moulded signature 'JJ Caffieri' on the base. Stamp: City of Versailles on the reverse. Early 20th century.
An original colour print by Leonor Fini, hand-signed in pencil by the artist lower right, accompanied by the handwritten dedication "Pour Serge". An un-numbered work, which is frequent for artist's proofs or personal gifts made by Leonor Fini in the 1960s-70s. This composition depicts two female figures, in a dreamlike, gentle and mysterious atmosphere, characteristic of the artist's symbolic universe. The figures wear turbans in a dreamlike atmosphere. This theme of feminine duality, sisterhood or identity is recurrent in Leonor Fini's work. This impression on vellum paper, dedicated, lends the work an intimate character. Presented in a moulded wood frame under glass with beige mount. Very fine general condition. 20th century.
A rare set of four profile portraits, painted in black gouache with highlights, on blue-green tinted paper, presented under glass. Two men and two women are depicted, with coiffures and costumes characteristic of late 18th-century and Directoire fashion. More precious than simple cut silhouettes, these painted effigies render with finesse the details of the faces, hair and fabrics. Each portrait is presented within a brown fillet line and united in a single mount. The whole is preserved in a gilt wood frame adorned with carved friezes and palmettes. Good general condition. Wear and patina of time.
An elegant watercolour-heightened print on vellum paper, after Henri Lebasque (1865-1937), depicting a young woman seated in a garden. The supple and luminous line evokes the sensibility of the Post-Impressionist master, known for his intimate and sun-drenched painting. The hand-applied watercolour highlight lends this proof a unique gentleness: the delicate touches of colour animate the composition, conveying the poetry of suspended moments dear to Lebasque. Signed in the plate, in good general condition. 20th century. Framed under glass.
A set of three carved wood panels, executed in a single block, depicting animal scenes. Each panel is carved from a single piece of wood and presents a deep relief, a clean line, together with a handsome group of foliate motifs, leaves and framings entirely carved by hand. The scenes depict a mare and her foal, cattle at pasture and a partridge in a rural setting, typical of the pastoral repertoire of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The reverse, left raw, shows tool marks and confirms a traditional and authentic artisanal work. A very fine early patina.