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.
A superb decorative banner holder / heraldic plaque from the late 19th century, probably Belgium or Northern France, painted on a wooden support. It depicts a portrait of a young woman in profile, crowned with laurels. The model, gazing into the distance, evokes the female allegories used in 19th-century decorative arts: muse, victory or republican figure. The piece presents a shaped scalloped outline. The ground is treated in deep blue, enhanced with a frame painted in olive tones. Fine quality of execution.
An oil on canvas depicting a landscape animated by a stone bridge spanning a river, attributable to the French Post-Impressionist vein of the 20th century. The brushwork is free, thick and highly expressive, worked with knife and brush, with a generous material particularly visible in the vegetation and masonry areas. The palette, dominated by deep greens, warm ochres and nuanced blues, conveys with accuracy a luminous and vibrant atmosphere. The work is signed lower right "Maurice Lemaire", a 20th-century French artist known for his sensitive and constructed landscapes, inscribed in the modernised tradition of plein air painting. The painting is presented in an important carved, painted and gilt wood frame.
A fine gouache attributed to Louis Gadbois (work expertised), dating from the late 18th to early 19th century, depicting an Italian countryside landscape animated by washerwomen, in a balanced and luminous composition. In the foreground, several female figures are occupied washing linen at the edge of a watering place, while the landscape opens gradually onto a rolling distance, rhythmed by slender trees and gentle reliefs. The scene is bathed in clear and atmospheric light, typical of the idealised views of Italy prized by artists of the late 18th century. The palette, refined and harmonious, combines tender greens, delicate blues and warm ochres. The treatment of the landscape, the aerial depth and the finesse of the figures inscribe themselves fully in the tradition of genre scenes and animated landscapes of Italian inspiration of the Neoclassical period. Good general condition.
An oil on panel depicting the portrait of a young woman in bust, arms raised behind the head, in an attitude both free and introspective. The model, treated with gentleness and restraint, stands out against a dark ground animated with stylised coloured touches, bringing depth and vibration to the composition. The brushwork is fine and mastered, with delicately worked material. The composition is centred on the female figure, whose assertive pose contrasts with the melancholy expression of the face. Figurative work of the first half of the 20th century, at the crossroads of realism and a more modern sensibility. The whole exudes a strong and elegant presence. Signature lower right, partially legible, unidentified. Presented in its moulded wood frame with patinated green and gilt decoration.
Probably German School depicting a romantic landscape with wanderer. A very fine antique painting figuring a romantic landscape animated by a solitary figure seen from behind, walking through a rocky valley dominated by tall trees. The composition is organised around an interplay of chiaroscuro, a luminous opening at the centre reveals a mountainous horizon, while the dark masses of trees and rocks powerfully frame the scene. The iconography of the Wanderer — a figure dear to the German tradition — confers on the work a symbolic and introspective dimension, inherited from 19th-century Romanticism. The brushwork is vivid in the rocks, more melted in the skies and foliage, with a warm palette of browns, ochres and deep greens, typical of Germanic schools. Fine early patina, relined, mounted on original keyed stretcher.
A ceramic sculpture figuring a seated cat, treated in a stylised manner. The piece is covered with a deep brown glaze, animated with amber and ochre nuances. The surface presents chromatic variations. The modelling is fluid, highlighting the full volumes of the body and the softness of the dorsal line. Origin: Normandy region, probably Bavent.