'Les Oies du Frère Philippe'

The subject of the present lot inspired many French artists in the 18th century, among them Boucher, Vleughels, Pierre and Subleyras. Taken from La Fontaine's poem of 1754, the story goes thus: a man has taken religious vows following his wife's death and has decided to raise their son alone in the forest far from society. One day they have to go to town and the young man approaches women for the first time. Innocently he asks father about these 'young beauties': 'Qu'est-ce là?... c'est un oiseau qui s'appelle oie...lui répond t-on. Menons-en une en notre bois, j'aurai soin de lui plaire'.

The overall style and treatment of the figures in the present lot is close to that of Raoux's The Fortune Teller in Sans-Souci.