Lot 18: MARGUERITE GÉRARD & JEAN-HONORÉ FRAGONARD 1761 - 1837 AND 1732 - 1806 | The Interesting Student

Oil on canvas

64,6 x 55 cm ; 25 1/2  by 21 2/3  in.

Translated from the French condition report made by Isabelle Leegenhoek The painting has been relined (old relining), not too stiffly, and is on a stretcher held together with spanners.The painted surface is covered with a dirty and yellow uniform varnish layer. It is painted on a light and very thick primer, which is responsible for the rather present craquelure pattern. The painted surface in the darker areas is very thinly applied and fluid, and it consists of different transparent painted surface layers, each of these have resulted in premature craquelure patterns. The main figure and all the lighter areas consist of a thicker material which does not show any craquelure pattern and is in a very nice condition. Under UV light, we can see the retouchings mentioned above in the premature craquelure patterns in the darker areas, in the red cloth and in the sculptures, and also some retouchings in the ears of the dog. The painting does not show any damages.The actual state of preservation is good, with the restorations well integrated. A cleaning would allow the painting to achieve more in its depth and saturation.Concluding, the painting is in a very good state of conservation, but shows a premature craquelure pattern, retouched in its backgrounds.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

- Petits Théâtres de l'intime – La peinture de genre française entre Révolution et Restauration, Toulouse, Musée des Augustins, 2011-2012, p. 90-91, n° 19

- L. Tuetey, « Procès-verbaux de la Commission des monuments (1790-93), Nouvelles Archives de l'Art français ».  Revue de l'Art français ancien et moderne, t. XVII, 1901. Société de l'Histoire de l'Art français, 1902, p. 338 
- Doin, « Marguerite Gérard (1761-1837) »,  La Gazette des Beaux-Arts, décembre 1912, p. 436 
- S. Wells-Robertson,  Marguerite Gérard, Ph. D, New-York University, 1978, pp. 750-751, n°17 
- S. Wells-Robertson, "Marguerite Gérard et les Fragonard »,  Bulletin de la Société de l'Histoire de l'Art français, 1979, p. 184 
- J.-P. Cuzin,  Jean-Honoré Fragonard, Vie et oeuvre. Catalogue complet des peintures, Fribourg, 1987, p. 355, n° D212 "(Marguerite Gérard (et Fragonard?)"
- G. Scherf, « Problèmes d'attribution : Marbres de Falconet, Tassaert et Broche », dans cat. exp.  Falconet à Sèvres 1757-1766, Sèvres, Musée national de Céramique de Sèvres, 2001-2002, note 21 p. 44
- J.-P. Cuzin, "Fragonard en 2006", dans cat. expo.  Jean-Honoré Fragonard (1732 - 1806), Barcelone, 2006-2007, p. 201 (vers 1785-1786, "Fragonard et Marguerite Gérard?")
- C. Blumenfeld dans cat. exp.  Marguerite Gérard – Artiste en 1789, dans l'atelier de Fragonard, Paris, musée Cognacq-Jay, 2009, p. 19
- C. Blumenfeld,  Marguerite Gérard et la peinture de la fin des années 1770 aux années 1820, thèse de doctorat, Lille, 2011, p. 32, n° 27
- C. Blumenfeld,  Marguerite Gérard, 1761-1837, Montreuil, 2019, n° 25 P, repr. p. 26. Sur le processus de collaboration par morceaux, voir texte p. 42, sur le sujet p. 27-31

Joseph François Xavier Le Pestre, comte de Seneffe de Turnhout's Collection, Paris;
Revolutionary seizure during his exil in italy and transport of the collection to Nesle's depot (Arch. nat., F17*372, 8 avril 1794 [19 germina an III]; Acquired by Antoine-Gabriel Aimé Jourdan, fermier of the cristallerie de Saint-Louis, with part of the collection stored at the Nesle's depot (Arch. m. nat., Registre de Réception des objets d'art et antiquités trouvés chez les Emigrés et condamnés, réservés par la Commission temporaire des Arts adjoints du Comité d'Instruction publique, 1 DD 6); 
Sale Jourdan, Paris, 4 avril 1803 [ Alexandre-Joseph Paillet et Hippolyte Delaroche), n° 18 (Marguerite Gérard), sold 505 francs.

- Collection of Joseph François Xavier Le Pestre, Comte de Seneffe de Turnhout, Paris;
- Seized from the Temple on 8 April 1794 [19 Germinal Year III] by the revolutionary authorities, along with other works belonging to the same prince, and sent to the Hôtel de Nesle, Rue de Beaune;
- Transferred on the orders of the Interior Minister to Antoine Gabriel Jourdan (1740-1804), ‘farmer’ from the Müntzthal national glassworks in Lorraine;
- Jourdan sale, Paris, 4 April 1803 (Alexandre-Joseph Paillet and Hippolyte Delaroche), lot 18 (Marguerite Gérard), sold for 505 francs;
- By descent to his godson, Aimé Gabriel d’Artigues (1773-1848), director of the Saint-Louis glassworks;
- His daughter Anne Gabrielle d’Artigues (1833-1889), who in 1853 married Comte Charles-Édouard de Ribes (1824-1896), mayor of Belle-Église (Oise);
- Their son, Comte Charles-Aimé-Auguste de Ribes (1858-1917);
- His son, Comte Jean-Édouard de Ribes (1893-1982);
- His son, Comte Édouard-Auguste-Édouard de Ribes (1923-2013);
- The current owners