5
Circle of Piat-Joseph Sauvage (French, 1744-1818), "Recumbent Bacchus with Bacchant, Bacchante, an
Description
Circle of Piat-Joseph Sauvage (French, 1744-1818), "Recumbent Bacchus with Bacchant, Bacchante, an Infant Satyr, and a Goat," c. 1780s, oil on canvas in `overdoor` format, unsigned, 29 in. x 39 in., period frame. Note: This truly superb scene is richly and beautifully painted in trompe-l`oeil to simulate a white marble or stucco figural relief, overlaid on a fictive marble ground representing a deep mulberry-red slab of the characteristic stone that comes from Monte Gargano in Apulia. The technique of an illusionistic monochrome scene set against a colored ground (as opposed to a gray background, called grisaille) is highly typical of the so-called camaïeux pioneered by Sauvage, who—though he lived in France—was a native of Flanders, the region in which the artifice of illusionistic trompe-l`oeil originated, under Dutch influence. The term refers to the `cameo-like` effect of gemstones (usually ancient ones) of large size and complex iconography, in which whitish layers of stone are selectively cut away from a sardonyx ground, to form actual relief compositions. The Antique prototypes are of course considerably smaller than the spectacular example represented here, though this design is strikingly similar to the compositions of actual Imperial Roman and Renaissance examples. The `relief` style here is very strikingly reminiscent of the sculptural compositions of Claude Michel, called Clodion (1738-1814), whose plaster, terracotta, and marble bas-reliefs Sauvage very frequently copied in his trompe-l`oeil pictures; in Sauvage`s Paris sale of 21 December 1808, indeed, the painter is recorded as owning a large number of original reliefs by Clodion. The present painting has perhaps a more concentrated composition and finer detail than any known relief by Clodion, although the group at the left is very closely similar to a lost work by that sculptor—a Sleeping Satyress with her right arm on an urn, and a child satyr behind, holding a bunch of grapes (a relief recorded in two sales of 1779, respectively of the Prince de Conti and the Abbé de Gévigney, and sketched by Saint-Aubin in the margin of the Prince`s sale catalogue). The confident, fluid handling of the `loaded brush,` the incisive details, and masterly treatment of light and shade—on which, after all, the effective illusion of depth and spatial projection completely depend—combine to make this masterpiece of trompe-l`oeil one of the most important additions to that rare pictorial type to have been found in recent years. References: Françoise Maison and Susan B. Taylor, "Compiègne," Grove Dictionary of Art, ed. Jane Turner, 34 vols., London, 1996, vol 7, p. 677 (for Sauvage`s overdoors of 1782-86 with colored grounds, in the Salon des Jeux of that royal château); Ian Dunlop, "Fontainebleau," ibid., vol. 11, p. 261 (for Sauvage`s overdoors of 1785-86 in the royal residence); Joseph Baillo, et al., The Arts of France, New York, 2005, pp. 294-296, no. 125, and 407-408 (for Sauvage`s illusionistic mural decorations of 1781-89 at Versailles, for the Château de Belleville, and in a pavilion of Marie-Antoinette`s Laiterie at the Château de Rambouillet); Guilhem Scherf, "Autour de Clodion: variations, imitations, repetitions," in Revue de l`Art, no. 91 (1991), pp. 47-59 (for the association with Sauvage); Anne L. Poulet and Guilhem Scherf, Clodion, 1738-1814, Paris, 1992, esp. p. 441, for the Saint-Aubin sketch of the cognate composition to this design.
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Circle of Piat-Joseph Sauvage (French, 1744-1818), "Recumbent Bacchus with Bacchant, Bacchante, an Infant Satyr, and a Goat," c. 1780s, oil on canvas in `overdoor` format, unsigned, 29 in. x 39 in., period frame. Note: This truly superb scene is richly and beautifully painted in trompe-l`oeil to simulate a white marble or stucco figural relief, overlaid on a fictive marble ground representing a deep mulberry-red slab of the characteristic stone that comes from Monte Gargano in Apulia. The technique of an illusionistic monochrome scene set against a colored ground (as opposed to a gray background, called grisaille) is highly typical of the so-called camaïeux pioneered by Sauvage, who—though he lived in France—was a native of Flanders, the region in which the artifice of illusionistic trompe-l`oeil originated, under Dutch influence. The term refers to the `cameo-like` effect of gemstones (usually ancient ones) of large size and complex iconography, in which whitish layers of stone are selectively cut away from a sardonyx ground, to form actual relief compositions. The Antique prototypes are of course considerably smaller than the spectacular example represented here, though this design is strikingly similar to the compositions of actual Imperial Roman and Renaissance examples. The `relief` style here is very strikingly reminiscent of the sculptural compositions of Claude Michel, called Clodion (1738-1814), whose plaster, terracotta, and marble bas-reliefs Sauvage very frequently copied in his trompe-l`oeil pictures; in Sauvage`s Paris sale of 21 December 1808, indeed, the painter is recorded as owning a large number of original reliefs by Clodion. The present painting has perhaps a more concentrated composition and finer detail than any known relief by Clodion, although the group at the left is very closely similar to a lost work by that sculptor—a Sleeping Satyress with her right arm on an urn, and a child satyr behind, holding a bunch of grapes (a relief recorded in two sales of 1779, respectively of the Prince de Conti and the Abbé de Gévigney, and sketched by Saint-Aubin in the margin of the Prince`s sale catalogue). The confident, fluid handling of the `loaded brush,` the incisive details, and masterly treatment of light and shade—on which, after all, the effective illusion of depth and spatial projection completely depend—combine to make this masterpiece of trompe-l`oeil one of the most important additions to that rare pictorial type to have been found in recent years. References: Françoise Maison and Susan B. Taylor, "Compiègne," Grove Dictionary of Art, ed. Jane Turner, 34 vols., London, 1996, vol 7, p. 677 (for Sauvage`s overdoors of 1782-86 with colored grounds, in the Salon des Jeux of that royal château); Ian Dunlop, "Fontainebleau," ibid., vol. 11, p. 261 (for Sauvage`s overdoors of 1785-86 in the royal residence); Joseph Baillo, et al., The Arts of France, New York, 2005, pp. 294-296, no. 125, and 407-408 (for Sauvage`s illusionistic mural decorations of 1781-89 at Versailles, for the Château de Belleville, and in a pavilion of Marie-Antoinette`s Laiterie at the Château de Rambouillet); Guilhem Scherf, "Autour de Clodion: variations, imitations, repetitions," in Revue de l`Art, no. 91 (1991), pp. 47-59 (for the association with Sauvage); Anne L. Poulet and Guilhem Scherf, Clodion, 1738-1814, Paris, 1992, esp. p. 441, for the Saint-Aubin sketch of the cognate composition to this design.
Two Day Winter Estate Auction
Sale Date(s)
Venue Address
4038 Magazine Street
New Orleans
Louisiana
70115
United States
For Neal Auction Company delivery information please telephone +1 5048995329.
Important Information
Auction Schedule
Saturday 23rd February at 10am: Main Gallery (4038 Magazine Street, New Orleans)
Sunday 24th Februaru at 11am: Carondelet Gallery (3923 Carondelet Street, New Orleans)
The successful bidder agrees to pay a buyers premium in the amount of 22% of the hammer price on each lot up to and including $200,000, plus 10% of the hammer price greater than $200,000. For purchases made by cash, check or wire transfer, the buyers premium shall be discounted 2.5% of this 22%.
All purchases made online are at a buyers premium of 23%.
Shipping: It is the buyers responsibility to arrange and pay for packing & shipping. All buyers must contact a shipping company to make all packing and shipping arrangements within 2 weeks of the auction including pick up, shipping charges, and claims. Please visit a list of shippers at www.nealauction.com/shipping
Payment: NAC will email successful buyers invoices within 3 days from the date of the auction. We accept US DOLLAR payments in the form of: cash, personal check, company check, cashiers check, money orders, wire transfer, Visa, MasterCard and Discover, or American Express. If paying by check, NAC reserves the right to hold all purchases until the check has cleared.
Condition Reports: It is the responsibility of the prospective buyer to inquire as to the condition of a specific lot PRIOR to bidding. All completed condition reports are posted by lot number at www.nealauction.com/crindex.html , condition will NOT be included in the description of the lot. DO NOT BID IF YOU HAVE NOT RECEIVED A CONDITION REPORT. ALL SALES ARE FINAL. The deadline for Condition Report request submittal is Wednesday by 5pm.
Saturday 23rd February at 10am: Main Gallery (4038 Magazine Street, New Orleans)
Sunday 24th Februaru at 11am: Carondelet Gallery (3923 Carondelet Street, New Orleans)
The successful bidder agrees to pay a buyers premium in the amount of 22% of the hammer price on each lot up to and including $200,000, plus 10% of the hammer price greater than $200,000. For purchases made by cash, check or wire transfer, the buyers premium shall be discounted 2.5% of this 22%.
All purchases made online are at a buyers premium of 23%.
Shipping: It is the buyers responsibility to arrange and pay for packing & shipping. All buyers must contact a shipping company to make all packing and shipping arrangements within 2 weeks of the auction including pick up, shipping charges, and claims. Please visit a list of shippers at www.nealauction.com/shipping
Payment: NAC will email successful buyers invoices within 3 days from the date of the auction. We accept US DOLLAR payments in the form of: cash, personal check, company check, cashiers check, money orders, wire transfer, Visa, MasterCard and Discover, or American Express. If paying by check, NAC reserves the right to hold all purchases until the check has cleared.
Condition Reports: It is the responsibility of the prospective buyer to inquire as to the condition of a specific lot PRIOR to bidding. All completed condition reports are posted by lot number at www.nealauction.com/crindex.html , condition will NOT be included in the description of the lot. DO NOT BID IF YOU HAVE NOT RECEIVED A CONDITION REPORT. ALL SALES ARE FINAL. The deadline for Condition Report request submittal is Wednesday by 5pm.
Terms & Conditions
CONDITIONS OF SALE
Placing a bid at auction constitutes buyer's acceptance of and agreement to these Conditions of Sale.
1. WAIVER OF WARRANTY: All lots are sold "AS IS". No statement regarding condition, kind, value, or quality of a lot, whether made orally at the auction or at any other time, or in writing in this catalogue or elsewhere, shall be construed to be an express or implied warranty, representation, or assumption of liability. Any such warranty is WAIVED. Regarding works of art, Neal Auction Company does not make any express or implied warranty as to authorship. No statement in the catalogue or elsewhere, orally or in writing, shall be construed as an express or implied warranty, representation or limitation of liability as to authorship. Any such warranty is WAIVED.
Buyer agrees and acknowledges that: (a) buyer is not relying on Neal Auction Company's skill or judgment in selecting to purchase any lot; (b) no oral or written statements in the catalogue of Neal Auction Company or elsewhere regarding condition, attribution, kind, quality, value or authorship are the cause of or reason behind buyer's purchase of any lot; (c) buyer would have incurred the purchase of any lot regardless of any oral or written statements about condition, attribution, kind, quality, value, or authorship made in the catalogue or elsewhere; (d) Neal Auction Company did not know and could not have known that condition, attribution, kind, quality, expressed value, or authorship is the cause or reason why buyer decides to purchase any lot; (e) buyer's purchase of any lot is not intended to gratify a nonpecuniary interest; and (f) Neal Auction Company did not know, nor should it have known, that any oral or written statement about a lot in the catalogue or elsewhere would cause a nonpecuniary loss to buyer.
Notwithstanding the foregoing WAIVER OF WARRANTY, agreements and acknowledgements, Neal Auction Company may in its sole discretion, but shall not be obligated to, consider any reasonable request for rescission of a sale on the basis of authenticity of authorship of a work of art under the following terms and conditions only, all of which must be met:
A. Neal Auction Company shall not grant rescission regarding lots identified by Neal Auction Company by the terms "attributed to," "school of," "manner of," "after," or "signature of."
B. Neal Auction Company shall not grant rescission regarding any lot unless the buyer notifies Neal Auction Company in writing within a reasonable time from the date of the auction, and returns the lot to Neal Auction Company in the same condition that the lot was in at the time of sale.
C. Neal Auction Company shall not grant rescission regarding any lot unless the buyer presents to Neal Auction Company a written document signed by a recognized art expert acceptable to Neal Auction Company that the lot in question is a forgery.
D. Neal Auction Company shall not grant rescission to any person (including but not limited to the original buyer's heirs, legatees, assigns, transferees, or subsequent purchasers) other than the original buyer, and any rights of the original buyer are not transferrable or assignable.
E. Neal Auction Company shall not grant rescission when: (i) there is a conflict of expert opinion as to the authorship; (ii) expert opinion supported authorship at the time of sale, although expert opinion may have changed after the date of sale; and (iii) scientific processes that were unavailable, expensive or impractical at the time of sale have revealed since the time of sale that the author or period Neal Auction Company believed to be accurate at the time of sale was inaccurate.
F. In any dispute between Neal Auction Company and buyer regarding authorship of a work of art, it is stipulated that rescission of the sale and refund of the price paid shall be the buyer's sole recourse or remedy, if any is available, and Neal Auction Company shall not be responsible or obligated for any damages (including compensatory, general, incidental, exemplary or special damages), non-pecuniary losses, costs, expenses, injury, mental anguish, lost profits, attorney's fees, or any other monetary or injunctive relief.
2. The auctioneer shall have absolute discretion in determining the successful bidder. At the fall of the auctioneer's hammer, title to the offered lot will pass to the bidder acknowledged by the auctioneer. The bidder thereupon assumes full risk and responsibility and will pay full purchase price for the said lot.
3. The auctioneer may decide that any original bid is not commensurate with the value of the article offered, or that any advance thereafter is not of sufficient amount, he may reject the same.
4. The auctioneer reserves the right to withdraw any item at any time before the sale of the item.
5. No merchandise will be released before the end of the auction.
6. If the buyer fails to comply with any of the conditions of sale, Neal Auction Company reserves the right to hold such defaulting buyer liable for the purchase price; to cancel the sale, retaining as liquidated damages any payment made by the buyer; resell the property without reserve at public auction or privately on seven days' notice to the buyer or, take such other actions available by law as deemed necessary or appropriate. If Neal Auction Company resells the property, the original defaulting buyer shall be liable for the payment of any deficiency in the purchase price and all costs and expenses, including warehousing, the expenses of both sales, reasonable attorneys' fees, commissions, incidental damages and all other charges due hereunder.
ABSENTEE/TELEPHONE BIDS
1. All absentee bids and/or telephone bids must be in our gallery by 5 P.M. CST the Friday prior to the auction.
2. All arrangements for bidding should be made as early as possible. Telephone bidding will be taken at the discretion of the Neal Auction Company. Each item must have a low estimate of $500.
3. We assume no responsibility for failure to execute bids for any reason whatsoever.
4. We reserve the right to require that advance bids be accompanied by a 25% deposit.
PAYMENT
1 The successful bidder agrees to pay a buyer's premium in the amount of 20% of the hammer price on each lot up to and including $200,000, plus 10% of the hammer price greater than $200,000. For purchases made by cash, check or wire transfer, the buyer's premium shall be discounted 2.5% of this 20%.
2. Unless exempt by law, the purchaser will be required to pay Louisiana and local taxes, and, if applicable, any federal luxury or other tax, on the total purchase price.
3. Documentation of tax exemption must be provided upon registration.
4. Payment in full must be made by the successful bidder within ten days of the auction date. Interest charges will apply to invoices paid after this period expires. We reserve the right to require payment in full of the sales price at the moment of the successful bid.
5. VISA, MasterCard, Discover and American Express are accepted for invoices up to $25,000 per customer.
LIVE INTERNET BIDDING
Live internet bidding is available through Live Auctioneers and The Saleroom at a buyer's premium in the amount of 23% of the hammer price. See www.liveauctioneers.com and www.the-saleroom.com
TERMS
Any customer not accredited by Neal Auction Company must present a letter of reference from their bank or other suitable source acceptable to Neal Auction Company. Neal Auction Company requests that the merchandise be held on premises until the check clears or money can be wired into the Neal Auction Company account.
SHIPPING
We will assist buyers in making shipping arrangements by furnishing information on packers and shippers. Handling of purchased lots by us is at the risk of the purchaser. Final shipping arrangements and agreements are strictly between the buyer and the shipper.
STORAGE
We will be glad to store certain items purchased at auction until transportation is arranged. Unless other arrangements are made and confirmed in writing, all items must be removed within one week of the auction. On the first business day following that time period, merchandise remaining in the gallery will be turned over to a storage facility. The owner will be responsible for handling and storage costs. Handling costs will be a minimum of $50. Storage rates will carry a minimum charge of $15 per month. For a list of our storage charges by item category, please ask our customer service personnel at the front desk area. All items handled or stored will be at the purchaser's risk. Storage charges are billed monthly and must be paid before merchandise is released. We are not liable for any damage to merchandise after the sale.
See Full Terms And Conditions
Placing a bid at auction constitutes buyer's acceptance of and agreement to these Conditions of Sale.
1. WAIVER OF WARRANTY: All lots are sold "AS IS". No statement regarding condition, kind, value, or quality of a lot, whether made orally at the auction or at any other time, or in writing in this catalogue or elsewhere, shall be construed to be an express or implied warranty, representation, or assumption of liability. Any such warranty is WAIVED. Regarding works of art, Neal Auction Company does not make any express or implied warranty as to authorship. No statement in the catalogue or elsewhere, orally or in writing, shall be construed as an express or implied warranty, representation or limitation of liability as to authorship. Any such warranty is WAIVED.
Buyer agrees and acknowledges that: (a) buyer is not relying on Neal Auction Company's skill or judgment in selecting to purchase any lot; (b) no oral or written statements in the catalogue of Neal Auction Company or elsewhere regarding condition, attribution, kind, quality, value or authorship are the cause of or reason behind buyer's purchase of any lot; (c) buyer would have incurred the purchase of any lot regardless of any oral or written statements about condition, attribution, kind, quality, value, or authorship made in the catalogue or elsewhere; (d) Neal Auction Company did not know and could not have known that condition, attribution, kind, quality, expressed value, or authorship is the cause or reason why buyer decides to purchase any lot; (e) buyer's purchase of any lot is not intended to gratify a nonpecuniary interest; and (f) Neal Auction Company did not know, nor should it have known, that any oral or written statement about a lot in the catalogue or elsewhere would cause a nonpecuniary loss to buyer.
Notwithstanding the foregoing WAIVER OF WARRANTY, agreements and acknowledgements, Neal Auction Company may in its sole discretion, but shall not be obligated to, consider any reasonable request for rescission of a sale on the basis of authenticity of authorship of a work of art under the following terms and conditions only, all of which must be met:
A. Neal Auction Company shall not grant rescission regarding lots identified by Neal Auction Company by the terms "attributed to," "school of," "manner of," "after," or "signature of."
B. Neal Auction Company shall not grant rescission regarding any lot unless the buyer notifies Neal Auction Company in writing within a reasonable time from the date of the auction, and returns the lot to Neal Auction Company in the same condition that the lot was in at the time of sale.
C. Neal Auction Company shall not grant rescission regarding any lot unless the buyer presents to Neal Auction Company a written document signed by a recognized art expert acceptable to Neal Auction Company that the lot in question is a forgery.
D. Neal Auction Company shall not grant rescission to any person (including but not limited to the original buyer's heirs, legatees, assigns, transferees, or subsequent purchasers) other than the original buyer, and any rights of the original buyer are not transferrable or assignable.
E. Neal Auction Company shall not grant rescission when: (i) there is a conflict of expert opinion as to the authorship; (ii) expert opinion supported authorship at the time of sale, although expert opinion may have changed after the date of sale; and (iii) scientific processes that were unavailable, expensive or impractical at the time of sale have revealed since the time of sale that the author or period Neal Auction Company believed to be accurate at the time of sale was inaccurate.
F. In any dispute between Neal Auction Company and buyer regarding authorship of a work of art, it is stipulated that rescission of the sale and refund of the price paid shall be the buyer's sole recourse or remedy, if any is available, and Neal Auction Company shall not be responsible or obligated for any damages (including compensatory, general, incidental, exemplary or special damages), non-pecuniary losses, costs, expenses, injury, mental anguish, lost profits, attorney's fees, or any other monetary or injunctive relief.
2. The auctioneer shall have absolute discretion in determining the successful bidder. At the fall of the auctioneer's hammer, title to the offered lot will pass to the bidder acknowledged by the auctioneer. The bidder thereupon assumes full risk and responsibility and will pay full purchase price for the said lot.
3. The auctioneer may decide that any original bid is not commensurate with the value of the article offered, or that any advance thereafter is not of sufficient amount, he may reject the same.
4. The auctioneer reserves the right to withdraw any item at any time before the sale of the item.
5. No merchandise will be released before the end of the auction.
6. If the buyer fails to comply with any of the conditions of sale, Neal Auction Company reserves the right to hold such defaulting buyer liable for the purchase price; to cancel the sale, retaining as liquidated damages any payment made by the buyer; resell the property without reserve at public auction or privately on seven days' notice to the buyer or, take such other actions available by law as deemed necessary or appropriate. If Neal Auction Company resells the property, the original defaulting buyer shall be liable for the payment of any deficiency in the purchase price and all costs and expenses, including warehousing, the expenses of both sales, reasonable attorneys' fees, commissions, incidental damages and all other charges due hereunder.
ABSENTEE/TELEPHONE BIDS
1. All absentee bids and/or telephone bids must be in our gallery by 5 P.M. CST the Friday prior to the auction.
2. All arrangements for bidding should be made as early as possible. Telephone bidding will be taken at the discretion of the Neal Auction Company. Each item must have a low estimate of $500.
3. We assume no responsibility for failure to execute bids for any reason whatsoever.
4. We reserve the right to require that advance bids be accompanied by a 25% deposit.
PAYMENT
1 The successful bidder agrees to pay a buyer's premium in the amount of 20% of the hammer price on each lot up to and including $200,000, plus 10% of the hammer price greater than $200,000. For purchases made by cash, check or wire transfer, the buyer's premium shall be discounted 2.5% of this 20%.
2. Unless exempt by law, the purchaser will be required to pay Louisiana and local taxes, and, if applicable, any federal luxury or other tax, on the total purchase price.
3. Documentation of tax exemption must be provided upon registration.
4. Payment in full must be made by the successful bidder within ten days of the auction date. Interest charges will apply to invoices paid after this period expires. We reserve the right to require payment in full of the sales price at the moment of the successful bid.
5. VISA, MasterCard, Discover and American Express are accepted for invoices up to $25,000 per customer.
LIVE INTERNET BIDDING
Live internet bidding is available through Live Auctioneers and The Saleroom at a buyer's premium in the amount of 23% of the hammer price. See www.liveauctioneers.com and www.the-saleroom.com
TERMS
Any customer not accredited by Neal Auction Company must present a letter of reference from their bank or other suitable source acceptable to Neal Auction Company. Neal Auction Company requests that the merchandise be held on premises until the check clears or money can be wired into the Neal Auction Company account.
SHIPPING
We will assist buyers in making shipping arrangements by furnishing information on packers and shippers. Handling of purchased lots by us is at the risk of the purchaser. Final shipping arrangements and agreements are strictly between the buyer and the shipper.
STORAGE
We will be glad to store certain items purchased at auction until transportation is arranged. Unless other arrangements are made and confirmed in writing, all items must be removed within one week of the auction. On the first business day following that time period, merchandise remaining in the gallery will be turned over to a storage facility. The owner will be responsible for handling and storage costs. Handling costs will be a minimum of $50. Storage rates will carry a minimum charge of $15 per month. For a list of our storage charges by item category, please ask our customer service personnel at the front desk area. All items handled or stored will be at the purchaser's risk. Storage charges are billed monthly and must be paid before merchandise is released. We are not liable for any damage to merchandise after the sale.
