Lot Essay
In a sale of Jules Boilly's property at Delbergue-Cormont, Hôtel Drouot, March 19-20, 1869, lot 336 is listed as a terracotta relief by Pierre Puget (1620-1694) that would appear to correspond exactly to the sculpture in the present painting: 'Haut-relief représentant un jeune Triton dont les jambes se terminent en queue de poisson. Il est assis sur un tronc d'arbre & se recourne pour appuyer ses mains sur le navire. Étude pour la décoration d'un vaisseau. Monument rare, d'une exécution délicate & très soignées'. It sold for the enormous sum of 1080 francs.
A similar trompe l'oeil depicting a relief by Clodion, also presumed to be part of Boilly's own collection, was sold at Sotheby's, New York, Jan. 12, 1995, lot 132 ($55,000).
A similar trompe l'oeil depicting a relief by Clodion, also presumed to be part of Boilly's own collection, was sold at Sotheby's, New York, Jan. 12, 1995, lot 132 ($55,000).