69056: Ferdinand Roybet (French, 1840-1920) The Standar

Ferdinand Roybet (French, 1840-1920) The Standard Bearer Oil on panel 51 x 38 inches (129.5 x 96.5 cm) Signed lower right: F. Roybet Ferdinand Roybet's genre paintings demonstrating a fixation on the costumed glamour of the French courts of old have maintained an enduring appeal among collectors. A student of the École des Beaux-Arts in Lyon, his debut at the Salon of 1865 met with both critical and financial success. His much-admired style reached its zenith upon his 1870 sojourn to Holland at the onset of the Franco-Prussian War, when he was exposed to the work of Frans Hals, with its slashing brushwork and vigorous paint application. Hals' influence is clearly visible in the present work, and remains a constant throughout Roybet's production of commissioned portraits, which was his primary source of income. His mastery of light and shadow, supplemented by a virtuosic textural detailing cemented his status as one of the great genre painters of the age. In the present work, Roybet's cavalier may, in fact, portray one his patrons, since the artist was known to paint contemporary figures in historical dress. Unfortunately the identity of his sitter has since been lost to time.

HID03101062020

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Condition Report: On stable, beveled panel. Frame abrasion with some areas of associated gilding transfer at edges. A hairline scratch in lower right quadrant, extending throughout that area. 3 approximately 2-inch scratches at upper half of right edge. A vertical crack in center of lower half of the work, with some visible retouching. A few scattered minor hairline scratches. Finely patterned craquelure throughout. Some scattered pinpoint losses and small, faint scuffs. Not examined out of frame.
Under UV: heavily applied varnish fluoresces green. An approximately 2-inch vertical line of retouching at lower edge, approximately 2-inches inward from lower left corner. Retouching to extreme edges of panel, probably to address prior frame abrasion. Aforementioned retouching to crack in center of lower half of panel. A very few dots and dashes of retouching to the lower left of the figure's chin. Beneath the varnish layer, there appears to be some strengthening applied to the figure's mustache and the hair at his forehead. A small area of retouching just below the scratches at upper right.
Framed Dimensions 63 X 50 X 4.5 Inches Heritage Auctions strongly encourages in-person inspection of items by the bidder. Statements by Heritage regarding the condition of objects are for guidance only And should Not be relied upon as statements of fact, And do Not constitute a representation, warranty, Or assumption of liability by Heritage. All lots offered are sold "As Is"

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