Lot Essay
This painting will be accompanied by a letter from the artist's
daughter, Virginie Demont Breton, that may be transcribed as follows:
Le 20 Fev 1912
Monsieur
Je me rappelle avoir un mon pére, Jules Breton, peintre ce
tableau à Courrier©s, sou village natal. La fillette qui/
y est represantée est la soeur cadette d'une fille du village qui avais posé pour plusieurs de ses oeuvres précidents/
Les campaquardes vieillir- sent vite et mon pére qui affectionnais cer-/tains types qu'il retrou- vais dans les mémes fa- milles
a souvent repro- duit des personnager de diverses génerations/
près au mème foyer Li la choisissait au moment òu il les
trouvais dans tous leur epanouissement et dans tous leur caractère. La fraiche jeunesse de cette petite glaneuse qui etais àgee
d'environ quatorze aus lui apparut comme j'harmonisant bien avec la calme sérénité d'un beau soir d'été òu l'étoile du
berger commence a peine à poindre à l'horizon, heure poitigue
entre toutes. Il avais une nature douce et recueillie, très
contempla- tive et le crépuscule fret toute sa vie son heure
préférée. Agréz, Monsieur, l'assurance de mes meilleurs/
sentiments Virginie Demont Breton J'ajouterai que ce tableau est un des plus beaux qui mon pére ait peints en ce genre. Il le jugeais
aiuti lui-mème.
The English translation is as follows:
February 20, 1912
Dear Sir-
I remember seeing my father, Jules Breton, paint this picture at Courrieres, his native village. The young girl who is portrayed is the younger sister of a village girl who posed for several of his preceding works.
The country people age quickly, and my father who had a fondness for certain types which he found, often painted people of various generations from the same family. He chose them at the time when he considered them in the height of their beauty and character.
The fresh youthfulness of this little gleaner girl of about 14 years of age appeared to him as harmonizing with the calm serenity of a beautiful summer evening, when the shepherd's star begins to reach the horizon, an essentially poetical hour.
He had a sweet, retiring and contemplative nature, and the twilight was his most cherished hour.
Very Truly yours,
(signed) Virginie Demont Breton
I will add that the picture is one of the finest which my father painted in this style, and he considered it so himself.
This painting will be included in the forthcoming catalogue raisoné
on Jules Breton by Annette Bourrut La Couture.
daughter, Virginie Demont Breton, that may be transcribed as follows:
Le 20 Fev 1912
Monsieur
Je me rappelle avoir un mon pére, Jules Breton, peintre ce
tableau à Courrier©s, sou village natal. La fillette qui/
y est represantée est la soeur cadette d'une fille du village qui avais posé pour plusieurs de ses oeuvres précidents/
Les campaquardes vieillir- sent vite et mon pére qui affectionnais cer-/tains types qu'il retrou- vais dans les mémes fa- milles
a souvent repro- duit des personnager de diverses génerations/
près au mème foyer Li la choisissait au moment òu il les
trouvais dans tous leur epanouissement et dans tous leur caractère. La fraiche jeunesse de cette petite glaneuse qui etais àgee
d'environ quatorze aus lui apparut comme j'harmonisant bien avec la calme sérénité d'un beau soir d'été òu l'étoile du
berger commence a peine à poindre à l'horizon, heure poitigue
entre toutes. Il avais une nature douce et recueillie, très
contempla- tive et le crépuscule fret toute sa vie son heure
préférée. Agréz, Monsieur, l'assurance de mes meilleurs/
sentiments Virginie Demont Breton J'ajouterai que ce tableau est un des plus beaux qui mon pére ait peints en ce genre. Il le jugeais
aiuti lui-mème.
The English translation is as follows:
February 20, 1912
Dear Sir-
I remember seeing my father, Jules Breton, paint this picture at Courrieres, his native village. The young girl who is portrayed is the younger sister of a village girl who posed for several of his preceding works.
The country people age quickly, and my father who had a fondness for certain types which he found, often painted people of various generations from the same family. He chose them at the time when he considered them in the height of their beauty and character.
The fresh youthfulness of this little gleaner girl of about 14 years of age appeared to him as harmonizing with the calm serenity of a beautiful summer evening, when the shepherd's star begins to reach the horizon, an essentially poetical hour.
He had a sweet, retiring and contemplative nature, and the twilight was his most cherished hour.
Very Truly yours,
(signed) Virginie Demont Breton
I will add that the picture is one of the finest which my father painted in this style, and he considered it so himself.
This painting will be included in the forthcoming catalogue raisoné
on Jules Breton by Annette Bourrut La Couture.