MARGUERITE GÉRAUD (FRENCH, 1879-1969)
MARGUERITE GÉRAUD (FRENCH, 1879-1969)
MARGUERITE GÉRAUD (FRENCH, 1879-1969)
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MARGUERITE GÉRAUD (FRENCH, 1879-1969)
9 More
MARGUERITE GÉRAUD (FRENCH, 1879-1969)

Two albums of watercolor studies of fish

Details
MARGUERITE GÉRAUD (FRENCH, 1879-1969)
Two albums of watercolor studies of fish
Comprising ninety-seven drawings of Tahitian fish with an introduction by the artist, and with photographs and notes from various personalities of the time; each study accompanied with the corresponding fish's name on the back; the album covers painted with coral reef scenes and signed 'M Géraud' (lower left)
watercolor on paper
each album: 13 1/2 x 22 in. (34.3 x 55.9 cm.)
(2)
Provenance
Anonymous sale; Sotheby's, Paris, 16 May 2006, lot 56.
Acquired by Ann and Gordon Getty from the above.

Brought to you by

Elizabeth Seigel
Elizabeth Seigel Vice President, Specialist, Head of Private and Iconic Collections

Lot Essay

The albums are accompanied by a typewritten introduction by Marguerite Géraud in French; 'These fish were taken from nature in papeete (tahiti-oceania) in 1911 and 1912 and all painted by me. They were fished at my request by natives who brought them to me alive. Most of them are coral reef fish from which they borrow their wonderful colors. I cannot determine their adult dimensions, those I saw were, with a few exceptions, about the size of these watercolors. The names of the fish are written in Tahitian in red ink. Their scientific name, in black, indicated without prejudice, according to the studies made at the Museum, under the direction of Professor Roule, to whom I gave the replica of these albums for the Museum of Paris. The names and explanations concerning each animal are on the back of the page that represents it and not opposite, in order to be able to detach each sheet of the album if necessary.'
'Ces poissons ont été prélevés sur nature à papeete (tahiti-océanie) en 1911 et 1912 et tous peints par mes soins. Ils ont été pêchés à ma demande par des indigènes qui me les ont apportés vivants. La plupart d'entre eux sont des poissons du récif corallien auquel ils empruntent leurs merveilleuses couleurs. Je ne peux pas déterminer leurs dimensions adultes, celles que j'ai vues étaient, à quelques exceptions près, à peu près de la taille de ces aquarelles. Les noms des poissons sont écrits en tahitien à l'encre rouge. Leur nom scientifique, en noir, indiqué sans préjugé, d'après les études faites au Muséum, sous la direction du professeur Roule, à qui j'ai donné la réplique de ces albums pour le Muséum de Paris. Les noms et explications concernant chaque animal se trouvent au verso de la page qui le représente et non en vis-à-vis, afin de pouvoir détacher chaque feuille de l'album si nécessaire.'

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