Alexandre-François Desportes (Champigneule, Marne 1661-1743 Paris)
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Alexandre-François Desportes (Champigneule, Marne 1661-1743 Paris)

Plums in a basket and apricots in a blue and white bowl, with figs, a melon, plums, peaches and a red-legged partridge on a marble shelf, by a rabbit and a red-legged partridge hanging in an oak-paneled room

Details
Alexandre-François Desportes (Champigneule, Marne 1661-1743 Paris)
Plums in a basket and apricots in a blue and white bowl, with figs, a melon, plums, peaches and a red-legged partridge on a marble shelf, by a rabbit and a red-legged partridge hanging in an oak-paneled room
oil on canvas
29 3/8 x 36¼ in. (74.4 x 91.7 cm.)
Special notice
No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 17.5% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis

Lot Essay

Desportes trained briefly under the Flemish artist Nicasius Bernaerts (1620-1678), himself a former pupil of Frans Snyders, who instilled in the young artist what was to become a lifelong fascination with still life subjects and Flemish realism. After assisting Claude Audran in decorating the château of Anet, Clichy, the Hôtel de Bouillon and the Ménagerie at Versailles, he accepted an invitation in 1695 to paint royal portraits at the Polish court of John III Sobieski and Queen Marie-Casimire, before returning to France at the request of Louis XIV. In 1700 Desportes received the first of many royal commissions that were to span the next forty-three years. His fame spread beyond France's borders and he received commissions from the English nobility, including one for four still lifes painted for James, 1st Earl Stanhope.

After the death of Louis XIV he continued to find favour both with Philippe, duc d'Orléans, and then Louis XV, painting for the château de la Muette and for the Petits Appartements at Versailles. During the reign of the latter, Desportes's still lifes grew even richer in variety and reflect the interests that created the first great age of French cuisine. He last exhibited at the Salon of 1742.

Desportes' son, Claude-François (1695-1774), continued his father's work, painting still lifes that are sometimes difficult to distinguish from the father's oeuvre, and an attribution of the present work to the son should be considered. The latter exhibited at the Salons of 1725, 1737, 1739 and 1758.

We are grateful to Mr. Fabrice Faré for confirming the attribution to Alexandre-François Desportes, on the basis of photographs (private communication).

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