A young boy, bust-length, in a white chemise and black waistcoat

Details

Jean-Baptiste Greuze (Tournus 1725-1805 Paris)
A young boy, bust-length, in a white chemise and black waistcoat
oil on canvas
16 x 12 5/8 in. (40.6 x 32.1 cm.)

Provenance

[Perhaps] Alfred de Rothschild; sale, American Art Association, New York, 22 April 1932, lot 79 (measuring 15 x 12 in.)

Special notice

No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 15% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis.

Sale room notice

We are grateful to Dr. Michael Hall for providing the following additional provenance:
The marquis de Montcalm; sale, London, 4 May 1849, lot 105.
Alfred de Rothschild, by 1882, by whom bequeathed to
Grace, Marchioness Curzon of Kedelston; sale, Anderson Galleries, New York, 22 April 1932, lot 79 (where acquired by Rudert).

Lot Essay

Sold with a letter dated 15 June 1988, from Edgar Munhall who, on the basis of a photograph, confirmed the attribution of the picture and suggested that it is a preliminary study for Espièglerie (The mischievous boy) at the Wallace Collection, London, adding that 'without its narrative gesture [vis the Wallace picture], it has the appeal of a real portrait study rather than a subject picture'. He has further suggested that it might be identified with the picture of the same subject from the collection of Alfred de Rothschild, sold at the American Art Asscoiation, New York, 22 April 1932, lot 79, although there is a small discrepancy in the dimensions, the latter described as measuring 15 x 12 inches.

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