By Carter B. Horsley
Berthe Morisot (1841-1895) and Mary Cassatt are the two famous woman Impressionists. Lot 179, shown at the top of this article, is a sensational painting by Morisot that is a great example of an artist recognizing that a sketch can often be more exciting than a "properly" finished work. Some observers might argue that such sketches represent the finest inspirations of both artists and also of William Merritt Chase, the American Impressionist. This Morisot entitled "L’Enfant au Tablier Rouge," is an oil on canvas, 23 5/8 by 19 5/8 inches, and was painted in 1886. It depicts her daughter, Julie Manet, and the catalogue maintains it was "probably executed in the dining room of their house in the Rue de Villejust" in Paris. It had a very conservative estimate of $250,000 to $300,000 when it was offered in the day auction at Sotheby's May 11, 2000 and sold then for $280,750. This time is still has a very modest estimate of only $500,000 to $700,000 since it is one of the finest masterpieces of Impressionism!
There are far too many small portraits in the art market by Pierre-Auguste Renoir (1841-1919). The vast majority are sketches of very poor quality. Lot 167, however, is the exceptional exception, an exquisite small portrait of a young girl. An oil on canvas, it measures 16 1/8 by 12 5/8 inches and was painted in 1875. It has an estimate of $700,000 to $1,000,000.
Lot 117 is a fine Fauvist landscape by Emile Othon Friesz (1879-1949) that is entitled "Paysage à la Ciotat." An oil on canvas, it measures 23 5/8 by 28 1/4 inches and was painted in 1907. It has a modest estimate of $350,000 to $450,000.
Lot 128 is a sprightly harbor scene by Albert Marquet (1875-1947). An oil on canvas, it is entitled "Le Pavillon Blue à Saint-Cloud" and measures 25 5/8 by 31 7/8 inches. It was painted in 1905. The catalogue entry for this work remarks that this "jubliant" work belongs a "well-lnown series completed during the artist's Fauve period." It has a modest estimate of $600,000 to $900,000.
Lot 163 is a lovely gouache, watercolor and charcoal on paper by Vincent van Gogh (1853-1890). Entitled "The Beach at Scheveningen," it measures 10 7/8 by 18 1/8 inches and was done in 1882. It has a modest estimate of $450,000 to $650,000.
Lot 164 is a luscious and beautiful harbour scene by Eugene Boudin (1824-1898). Entitled "Trouville, Le Port," it is oil on canvas that measures 14 7/8 by 21 5/8 inches.. It was painted in 1895 and has considerable more color than many of his paintings. It has a modest estimate of $150,000 to $250,000.
Another exquisite Impressionist work is Lot 134, "Lagny, Bords de la Marne," by Henri Lebasque (1865-1937). An oil on canvas, it measures 23 1/2 by 28 3/4 inches and was painted in 1900. It has a modest estimate of $100,000 to $150,000.
Lot 131 is a large and very fine landscape by Henri Martin (1860-1943). Entitled "Effet du Matin, Labastide-du-Vert," it is an oil on canvas that measures 39 3/4 by 34 inches. It has a modest estimate of $200,000 to $300,000.
Lot 130 is a very strong Impressionist work by Charles Camoin (1879-1965) that shows a woman walking along a path in a park in Saint Cloud. An oil on canvas, it measures 25 9/16 by 21 3/4 inches and was painted in 1902. It has a modest estimate of $55,000 to $75,000.
Lot 157 is a lovely still life in front of a window by Henri Le Sidaner (1862-1939). It is an oil on canvas that measures 36 5/8 by 29 inches. It was painted in 1922. It has an estimate of $700,000 to $900,000.
Lot 198 is a very pleasant landscape by Pierre Bonnard (1867-1947). Entitled "Paysage de Saint-Tropez," it is an oil on canvas that measures 14 5/8 by 22 1/2 inches and was painted circa 1928. It has an estimate of $250,000 to $350,000.
Lot 200 is lovely small landscape in oil by Edouard Vuillard (1868-1940) that could have served as a fine model for Mark Rothko or Wolf Kahn. It measures 6 3/4 by 7 7/8 inches and was painted circa 1896. It has an estimate of $45,000 to $65,000.
Lot 111 is an intesresting composition by Andrew Lhote (1885-1962) entitled "Les Soeurs Dolly." An oil on canvas, it measures 41 1/2 inches square and was created in 1925. It has a modest estimate of $80,000 to $120,000. It was once in the collection of Mr. and Mrs. William Preston Harrison of Los Angeles.
Lot 334 is a strong composition by Albert Gleizes (1881-1953). An oil on canvas, it measures 39 1/8 by 25 3/8 inches and was painted circa 1923. It was included in the 1964 exhibition on the artist at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York. It has an estimate of $200,000 to $300,000.
Lot 202 is a very sweet and rather haunting painting of a naked young girl by Odilon Redon (1840-1916). A pastel on paper laid down on board, it measures 20 1/8 by 14 1/8 inches and was painted circa 1906. It has an estimate of $80,000 to $120,000.
Another Redon is Lot 203, a lush floral still life that is an oil on canvas that measures 24 3/8 by 19 7/8 inches and was painted circa 1905. It has an estimate of $500,000 to $700,000.
Lot 128 is an unusual sculpture by Robert Delaunay (1885-1941) made of mixed media with casein and cork. It measures 26 by 17 inches and was created in 1932. It has an estimate of $80,000 to $120,000.
Lot 149 is a superb bronze os a deated chimpanzee by Rembrandt Bugatti (1884-1916), one of 11 works by Bugatti from the collection of S. Joel Schur that Christie's is auctioning this season. It has an estimate of $300,000 to $500,000. Bugatti's older brother designed the famous Bugatti automobile.