.jpg?w=1)
.jpg?w=1)
Lot Essay
This impressive watercolor was created at the very end of Harpignies’ life, in the year of his death. The fan shape of the composition suggests that this was probably the design for a lampshade, a type of work that artist undertook in several occasions.
Several other compositions, similar in shape and size, are known. A smaller watercolor in a reverse fan shape, from the Joseph F. McCrindle collection, is in the National Gallery of Art, Washington (inv. 2009.70.135; The McCrindle Gift. A Distinguished Collection of Drawings and Watercolors, exhib. cat., Washington, National Gallery of Art, 2012, no. 53, ill.).
The same landscape by the river, in a similar color palette of light blue, white and black, was captured by the artist also in a small watercolor (Christie’s, Paris, 1 April 2016, lot 145) also from 1916.
Several other compositions, similar in shape and size, are known. A smaller watercolor in a reverse fan shape, from the Joseph F. McCrindle collection, is in the National Gallery of Art, Washington (inv. 2009.70.135; The McCrindle Gift. A Distinguished Collection of Drawings and Watercolors, exhib. cat., Washington, National Gallery of Art, 2012, no. 53, ill.).
The same landscape by the river, in a similar color palette of light blue, white and black, was captured by the artist also in a small watercolor (Christie’s, Paris, 1 April 2016, lot 145) also from 1916.