Lot 124: Marie Louise Catherine Breslau (Swiss, 1856-1927)

Marie Louise Catherine Breslau (Swiss, 1856-1927) HÉLÉNE WALKING IN PROCESSION inscribed on reverse pastel on paper 43 by 26cm., 17 by 10.25in> Provenance: Collection of Sarah Purser; Her sale, Mespil House, Dublin, 1943; Whence purchased by the present owner's sister-in-law Louise Breslau painted this pastel genre piece in 1920-21, when Hélène was living with her, and modeled for at least three other pictures now in Swiss and French museums. Purser bought it in 1926. Its purchase not only aided her lifelong friend who was experiencing precarious times, but the picture was loaded with nostalgia for both of them because Hélène was the granddaughter of their 1878-79 flat-mate Maria Feller, a talented but unfortunate musician. The picture is in Breslau's brisk final manner, an open technique giving full value to the warm grey Ingres paper on which she liked to work, and every element is deftly and economically rendered-the banner and its fringe are suggested with the merest touches> Dr. John O'Grady Dublin February 2009