The Last Hour of Pompeii - The House of the Poet

Details

Pierre Oliver Joseph Coomans (Belgian, 1816-1889)
The Last Hour of Pompeii - The House of the Poet
signed and dated 'Joseph Coomans 1869' (lower right)
oil on canvas
39 ¾ x 62 ¼ in. (101 x 158.1 cm.)

Provenance

Mrs. C. H. Hughes sale; Christie's, London, 5 May 1919, lot 120.
Acquired at the above sale by Mr. Mitchell (56 gns).
Anonymous sale; Christie's, London, 17 November 1995, lot 44.
John Reid sale; Christie's, London, 17 December 1998, lot 643.
Acquired at the above by a private collector.
Their sale; Christie's, New York, 28 April 2014, lot 58.
Acquired at the above sale by the present owner.

Special notice

These lots have been imported from outside the EU for sale using a Temporary Import regime. Import VAT is payable (at 5%) on the Hammer price. VAT is also payable (at 20%) on the buyer’s Premium on a VAT inclusive basis. When a buyer of such a lot has registered an EU address but wishes to export the lot or complete the import into another EU country, he must advise Christie's immediately after the auction.

Brought to you by

Alastair Plumb

aplumb@christies.com +44 (0)20 7752 3298

Lot Essay

Coomans studied under Nicaise De Keyser (1813-1887) at the Academy of Antwerp, under Pierre Van Hanselaere (1786-1862) in Ghent, and under Baron Gustave Wappers (1803-1874). At the early stage of his career Coomans chose Medieval subjects; but in his mature years, in pictures such as the present work, he found his true métier in the increasing vogue for scenes from antiquity.

More from British & European Art: European Art

View All