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Dessins Anciens et du XIXe siècle incluant une sélection de terres cuites

Dessins Anciens et du XIXe siècle incluant une sélection de terres cuites

Sale Overview

For the second year in a row, the Old Master and 19th Century Drawings sale in Paris will feature a selection of terracotta alongside works on paper.

Ranging from the 16th to the 19th century, these bozzetti transcribe the ‘fire of the imagination’ as described by the artist Charles-Nicolas Cochin (1715–1790) in one of his academic lectures in the 18th century. The diversity of works on offer showcase how artists interpret a similar subject in different ways, in drawing or in sculpture.

The Italian section is represented by works by Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo, Giovanni Battista Piazzetta and a group of drawings from the collection of art historian Michael Jaffé (1923–1997). The rich Northern section presents numerous landscape drawings: two attributed to Jan Brueghel the Elder, Herman Saftleven, Van Goyen, Pieter Molijn and an important Crucifixion by the 16th-century Flemish miniaturist, Hans Bol. The main discovery in the French section of the sale is a drawing by Nicolas Poussin from the prestigious English collection of Jonathan Richardson, depicting Saint Catherine kneeling surrounded by putti and looking at an image of the Virgin and Child.

From the 19th century are a section dedicated to fashion, with works by Karl Lagerfeld and Georges Lepape, a selection of topographical drawings by the great explorer Alphonse Pellion, drawings by women artists including Marie Laurencin, and a fresh watercolor by Sam Szafran from his series on the rooftops of Paris.

Sculpture highlights include an impressive terracotta depicting Amalthea and Jupiter’s goat, a reference to the Château de Rambouillet dairy built for Queen Marie-Antoinette. The work by Pierre Julien is a study for the final marble that decorated the grotto of that small temple.

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Pour la deuxième année consécutive, la vente des Dessins anciens & du XIXe siècle à Paris offrira également une sélection de terres cuites aux côtés des traditionnelles œuvres sur papier.

Allant du XVIe au XXe siècle, ces esquisses transcrivent le ‘feu de l’imagination’ comme décrit par l’artiste Charles-Nicolas Cochin (1715–1790) dans une de ses conférences académiques au XVIIIe siècle. La vente évoquera ainsi la pensée et le geste, ou comment les artistes interprètent un sujet similaire de différentes manières, que ce soit en dessin ou en sculpture.

Du côté de l’Italie, seront présentés des œuvres de Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo, Giovanni Battista Piazetta ou encore un ensemble de dessins ayant appartenu au professeur Mickaël Jaffé (1923–1997). La section nordique, importante cette année en nombre de lots présentera de nombreux paysages dont deux attribués à Jan Brueghel l’ancien, Herman Saftleven, Van Goyen, Pieter Molijn et une importante Crucifixion par le miniaturiste flamand du XVIe siècle, Hans Bol. La principale découverte de la section française est un dessin de Nicolas Poussin ayant appartenu à la prestigieuse collection anglaise de Jonathan Richardson, il représente Sainte Catherine agenouillée entourée de putti et regardant une image pieuse.

En sculpture, parmi les phares figure une impressionnante terre cuite représentant Amalthée et la chèvre de Jupiter qui nous renvoie à la laiterie du château de Rambouillet construite pour la reine Marie-Antoinette. Cette sculpture par Pierre Julien est une étude pour le marbre final qui décorait la grotte de ce petit temple.

Pour le XIXe siècle, vous découvrirez entre autres une section dédiée à la mode avec des œuvres de Karl Lagerfeld et Georges Lepape, une sélection de dessins topographiques du grand explorateur Alphonse Pellion, des dessins de femmes artistes dont Marie Laurencin et une aquarelle typique de Sam Sazfran d’une grande fraîcheur appartenant à sa série sur les toits de Paris. Plusieurs terres cuites de Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux seront également présentées.

Auction times
26 Mar 03:00 PM (CET) Lots 1-128

Our specialist’s selection

Brought to you by

Hélène Rihal

Hélène Rihal

Head of Department | Old Master Drawings

Hélène Rihal joined Christie’s in 2004 after having graduated in History of Art. As an expert in 18th century French drawings, with a focus in the graphic artworks of Charles Parrocel, she joined the Old Master Paintings department before becoming Specialist in the Old Master Drawings department in 2006.

With over 10 years of experience, Hélène was instrumental in some of the most remarkable sales at Christie’s Paris, including a private drawings collection from 1500–1900 in 2007 (€ 2,100,000) and the Pierre Bergé & Yves Saint Laurent sale in 2009. She led the remarkable drawings section in auctions such as the Trésors de la collection Veil Picard (€9,700,000). In 2015, she assisted in the sale of a study for the famous painting the Death of Socrates in the Old Master Drawings New York auction. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, which owns the painting, acquired the drawing for US$593,000.

She was involved in the Ecole des Beaux-Arts drawings exhibition in Paris, Une Dynastie de Peintres, les Parrocel (2008) and she also wrote several essays for the Musée des Beaux-Arts of Marseille exhibition catalogue, L’art et la manière. Dessins français du XVIIIe siècle (2018).
Alexandre Mordret-Isambert

Alexandre Mordret-Isambert

Specialist | Early European Sculpture & Works of Art

Alexandre Mordret-Isambert joined Christie's Paris in 2021 as an associate specialist in early European sculpture (medieval, Renaissance, baroque, neoclassical and 19th century). Alexandre is a graduate of the Université Panthéon-Assas, the École Pratique des Hautes Études-Sorbonne and the École du Louvre. After several years of experience in institutions such as the Louvre, the Museum of Decorative Arts in Paris and the French Mobilier National, Alexandre began working for international auction houses. Subsequently, he worked as a specialist for an expertise company dealing in sculpture and art objects from the Middle Ages to the 18th century.

Alexandre is still a teacher in Sculpture and Decorative Arts at the École du Louvre. Alexandre also assists a number of important international collectors in building their collections.

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