Joseph-Franois Ducq* (1762-1829)
Joseph-Franois Ducq* (1762-1829)

'The Heroism of a Scythian'

Details
Joseph-Franois Ducq* (1762-1829)
'The Heroism of a Scythian'
indistincly signed and dated 'I...DU..Roma.1809'
oil on canvas--unframed
108.7/8 x 157in. (276.6 x 398.8cm.)
Provenance
with Grozzini Palmieri, Florence.
Rudolf Nureyev; his sale, Christie's, New York, Jan. 13, 1995 [=2nd day], lot 126 ($200,000).
Exhibited
Paris, Salon, 1810, no. 266.
Engraved
Normond, pl. 48.

Lot Essay

Born in Ledeghem, Ducq was a pupil of Joseph Suve in Rome, where the present lot was painted. He exhibited in the Paris Salon from 1799-1814 and won a medal in 1810 for the present painting.

Entitled 'Dvoiement d'un scythe' in the Salon exhibition, the painting was described as: 'Belite voyant Basth, son ami, terrass par un lion et sur la point d'en tre dvore, saute en bas de son cheval et frappe la bte par derriere pour l'obliger tourner sur lui; mais voyant qu'elle ne vouliat point lcher prise, il lui met sa main dans gueule, pour arracher son ami des ses dents meurtirres. Le lion irrit, aprs avoir assouvi sa rage sur l'autre, se jette sur lui; mais en mourant, il le tue de son poignard et venge d'une mme coup la mort de son ami et la sienne'.