Lean times call for resourceful measures. With the art market heading south, cutbacks at Christie’s have caused the auction house to combine its resources in Old Masters and 19th century art into one outfit. OMNP recently talked to James Hastie and Georgina Wilsenach, specialists in this newly merged department, previewing its first combined sale of the two fields on Thursday.
Among various topics, we touched on the echoes of Old Masters found in the 1862 John Linnell painting, “Reapers at Noon” (lot 30)-an apt choice for the catalogue cover of a sale attempting to bridge collecting interest, as well as their high expectations for works by Boucher, and Regnault. OMNP, on the other hand, favors a landscape work by Bartholomeus Breenbergh (lot 71), another underpriced B-list Old Master, whose work was still very unique and important for the time. This lot exhibits the animated, individualistic expressions worn by the many figures in his landscapes, which gives his work and enlivened and entertaining presence. A darkened varnish has mildly sullied this trademark technique, and makes it a steal at it’s current estimate of $12-18k.
OMNP: What are your thoughts on market interest in the leadup to this sale?
JH: As a testing ground for this new combined category of Old Masters and 19th Century Art, we have been very pleased with the strong cross-over interest between the traditional Old Masters and 19th century works in this sale. In regards to overall sales expectations, we are sensitive to the continued cautious mood of the larger art market and remain committed to offering more conservative estimates and lower reserves.
OMNP: What do you think are some of the highlights of this sale?
JH: The Barbizon paintings have been very well-received by our clients, particularly the landscapes by Courbet and Corot. Among the 19th century works, we have good expectations for several of the British pictures, including those by Linnell, Grimshaw and Godward. Interest in French paintings carries over to the Old Masters as well, with competitive bidding expected for Francois Boucher’s Autumn, (lot 123) Regnault’s esoteric Cupid and Hymen Drink from the Cup of Friendship, (lot 99) and Prud’hon’s Portrait of Marie Adrienne Herve Louise de Carbonnel de Canisy, Duchesse de Vicence.
OMNP: The John Linnell painting, “Reapers at Noon,” (lot 30) seems to bear a connection to Pieter Brueghel’s “The Harvesters”..can that be verified, and is that something that has lead to interest from Old Masters collectors?
JH: Linnell may not have been directly influenced by Brueghel, but “Reapers at Noon” is certainly part of the larger, rich tradition of depictions of harvesters. Brueghel originated the use of the harvester as a stand-alone subject; here, Linnell re-interprets the classic image with his own interpretation and sensibilities. It’s a marvelous 19th century work that we expect will perform very well at the sale.
OMNP: A few landscapes by Gustave Courbet, “La Tour de Deliz”are up for sale at this auction. Despite not being his being his signature type of work, do you have any thoughts as to why paintings by such an important artist could be considered undervalued?
JH: While his figurative works have commanded the top prices at auction, Courbet’s work has always enjoyed a very consistent following so he should not necessarily be considered undervalued. He has a devoted following among both European and American collectors with a deep interest in all genres of his work.
Other OMNP recommended lots from this sale:
Lot 151: Théodore Chassériau: The Punishment of Cain (Caïn Maudit)
JH: At over five feet in width, the painting is monumental in scale. It bears an impressive exhibition history, having been included in the Paris Salon of 1836, when the artist was just 17 years old. Condition issues keep the estimate low on this particular work, but it we do expect it to draw interest at the sale.
Lot 99: Jean Baptiste Regnault: Cupid and Hymen Drink from the Cup of Friendship
GW: This is a rare and somewhat unusual piece from one of the great second-generation Neoclassical history painters. Cupid and Hymen is a rediscovered painting that has been owned for some time by a private Italian collector, so it represents a fresh collecting opportunity for our American clients. Other works from this period in Regnault’s career have achieved very strong results at auction, so we have good expectations for this rare find.
Lot 71: Bartholomeus Breenbergh: An Italianate landscape with soldiers and ruins
GW: This is a new addition to the artist’s body of work, and had previously been unpublished. The painting was acquired at auction in London in 1993 and has remained with a dealer in New York since. Works by Breenbergh vary in price and estimates mainly depend on condition. This painting is in good condition and would not necessarily need or benefit from anything other than a light cleaning.
Lot 8
Attributed to the Master of Lourinha (Portuguese active early 16th Century)
Saint James the Greater with an Augustinian nun
oil on panel
57¾ x 25 in. (146.7 x 63.5 cm.)
Estimate:
$20,000 – $30,000
The Landing of Aeneas in Latium
Circle of Claude Gellée, called Claude Lorrain (Champagne c. 1604/5-1682 Rome)
The Landing of Aeneas in Latium
oil on canvas
29¼ x 39 in. (74.3 x 99.1 cm.)
Estimate: $18,000 – $22,000
Lot 12
Narcisse Virgile Diaz de la Peña (Bordeaux 1807-1876 Menton)
Forêt de Fontainebleau
Estimate $10,000 – $15,000
Lot 15
Philips Augustyn Immenraet (Antwerp 1627-1679)
A wooded landscape with a herder by a stream
oil on canvas
32¾ x 41¾ in. (83.2 x 106 cm.)
Estimate $10,000 – $15,000
Lot 20
Gustave Courbet (Ornans 1819-1877 La Tour-de-Peilz)
Le Miroir de Scey-en-Varais
signed ‘G. Courbet’ (lower left)
oil on canvas
53½ x 43¾ in. (135.8 x 111.2 cm.)
Painted 1864-1868.
Estimate: $250,000 – $350,000
Lot 21
Pieter Bout (Brussels 1658-1719)
A view of the Pont de l’Isle de la Cité and the Tour des Nesle from the left bank, Paris; and A view of the Tour des Nesle and the left bank from the Pont de l’Isle de la Cité, Paris
oil on canvas
23¼ x 33 1/8 in. (59 x 84.2 cm.)
a pair (2)
Estimate: $25,000 – $35,000
Lot 24
Sir Joshua Reynolds, P.R.A. (Plympton 1723-1792 London)
Portrait of Bridget Morris, later Mrs. Lockwood, half-length, in a white silk dress and blue robe with ermine trim
oil on canvas
30 1/8 x 25 in. (76.6 x 63.5 cm.)
Estimate : $50,000 – $70,000
Lot 31
John Linnell (London 1792-1882)
Homeward Bound, sunset
signed and dated ‘J. Linnell 1861′ (lower right)
oil on canvas
28 x 37 in. (71.1 x 94 cm.)
Estimate : $30,000 – $40,000
Lot 33
John Linnell (London 1792-1882)
Reapers at Noon
signed and dated ‘J Linnell 1862′ (lower left)
oil on canvas
39½ x 54¼ in. (100 x 137.8 cm.)
Estimate: $120,000 – $180,000
Lot 36
Gustave Courbet (Ornans 1819-1877 La Tour-de-Peilz)
Jura landscape
signed ‘G. Courbet.’ (lower left)
oil on canvas
18¾ x 25¼ in. (47.6 x 64.1 cm.)
Painted circa 1868.
Estimate:$20,000 – $30,000
Lot 46
Nicolas Lancret (Paris 1690-1743)
A lady with her page
oil on canvas
28 3/8 x 23 5/8 in. (72 x 60 cm.)
Estimate: $15,000 – $20,000
Lot 55
Studio of François Boucher (Paris 1703-1770)
Arion carried by a dolphin
oil on canvas, the corners made up
38½ x 51¼ in. (96 x 130 cm.)
Estimate: $20,000 – $30,000
Lot 59
Hubert Robert (Paris 1733-1808)
Figures on the banks of a lake with classical ruins
oil on canvas
86½ x 101 in. (219.7 x 256.5 cm.)
Estimate:$200,000 – $300,000
Lot 62
Studio of Ferdinand Bol (Dordrecht 1616-1680 Amsterdam)
Venus and Cupid
oil on canvas
44 x 35¾ in. (111.8 x 90.8 cm.)
Estimate: $15,000 – $20,000
Lot 71
Bartholomeus Breenbergh (Deventer 1598-1657 Amsterdam)
An Italianate landscape with soldiers and ruins on a hilltop beyond
oil on panel
18½ x 27½ in. (47 x 69.8 cm.)
Estimate: $12,000 – $18,000
Lot 73
Angelus de Baets (Evergem 1793-1855 Gand)
The choir of the Saint Bavo Cathedral, Ghent
signed, inscribed and dated ‘ANGE DE BAETS/PXT A GAND 1831′ (lower left)
oil on panel
30¾ x 21½ in. (80.6 x 54.6 cm.)
Estimate: $12,000 – $18,000
Lot 76
Thomas Mertens (active Antwerp, 17th Century)
Grapes, nectarines, peaches, plums, figs and a melon in an upturned basket, in a landscape
indistinctly signed ‘Th.o:Mertens’ (on the rock, lower center)
oil on canvas
34¼ x 43¾ in. (87 x 111.2 cm.)
Estimate: $15,000 – $20,000
Lot 79
French School, 19th Century
Still life with game, fish in a bowl and flowers on a table; and Still life with a cat, a parrot, and game birds on a table
the second indistinctly signed ‘José Sol***’ (lower right)
oil on canvas
35¾ x 52½ in. (91 x 133.5 cm.)
a pair (2)
Estimate: $15,000 – $20,000
Lot 82
Ange Louis Guillaume Lesourd de Beauregard (Paris 1800-1873)
Grapes, plums, strawberries, peaches, pumpkin, and summer flowers on a forest floor
signed ‘Lesourd de Beauregard’ (lower left)
oil on canvas
32 x 25½ in. (81.3 x 64.8 cm.)
Estimate: $20,000 – $30,000
Lot 89
Venetian School, 18th Century
Putti frolicking with a goat in a landscape
oil on canvas
38 1/8 x 32 in. (96.9 x 81.3 cm.)
Estimate:$10,000 – $15,000
Lot 98:
Jean Léon Gérôme (Vésoul 1824-1904 Paris)
Le Saut de Mettius Curtius
signed and inscribed ‘J.L. Gerôme./A son ami Membrée.’ (lower right)
oil on canvas
21 x 30 in. (53.4 x 76.2 cm.)
Estimate: $80,000 – $120,000
Lot 99
Jean Baptiste Regnault (Paris 1754-1829)
Cupid and Hymen Drink from the Cup of Friendship
signed and dated ‘JB. Regnault 1820′ (lower left)
oil on canvas
59 x 45 5/8 in. (150 x 116 cm.)
Estimate: $200,000 – $300,000
.
Lot 107
John Atkinson Grimshaw (Leeds 1836-1893)
Homeward Bound
signed ‘Atkinson Grimshaw’ (lower left)
oil on board
21¾ x 17¼ in. (55.2 x 43.8 cm.)
Estimate: $80,000 – $120,000
.
Lot 123
François Boucher (Paris 1703-1770)
Autumn
signed ‘f Boucher’ (lower left)
oil on canvas, the upper corners made up
43½ x 47 in. (110.5 x 119.4 cm.)
in a period-style gilt frame, shaped to cover the upper corners
Estimate: $180,000 – $220,000
.
Lot 151
Théodore Chassériau (El Limón 1819-1856 Paris)
The Punishment of Cain (Caïn Maudit)
Estimate $20,000 – $30,000
Théodore Chassériau (El Limón 1819-1856 Paris)
The Punishment of Cain (Caïn Maudit)
signed and dated ‘T. Chasseriau. 1836′ (lower right)
oil on canvas
47½ x 64 in. (120.7 x 162.6 cm.)
