MAXIMILIEN LUCE (FRENCH 1858-1941)

MAXIMILIEN LUCE (FRENCH 1858-1941)
Paysage au bord de la riviere, 1896
oil on canvas
49 x 66 cm (19 1/4 x 26 in.)
signed and dated lower right

PROVENANCE
Sotheby's, London, July 2, 1969, lot 51
Collection of Naeib Liehin
Sotheby's, New York, May 21, 1982, lot 311
Private Collection, Paris
Galerie Maxwell, San Francisco
Galerie Etienne Sassi, Paris
Private Collection, Switzerland
Sotheby's, New York, May 8, 2008, lot 195
Acquired at the above by the present owner

LITERATURE
Philippe Cazeau, Maximilien Luce (Lausanne: Bibliotheque des arts, 1982), p. 90 (illustrated)
Jean Bouin-Luce and Denise Bazetoux, Maximilien Luce, Catalogue Raisonne de L'Oeuvre Peint, vol. 1 (Paris: Editions JBL, 1986), no. 1043, p. 94 (illustrated)

LOT NOTES
Paysage au bord de la riviere is an important work in Luce's ouevre, dating to 1896. It was painted shortly after Luce's visit to Camille Pissarro in Eragny-sur-Epte near Normandy, where he stayed during the month of September, 1895. It shows Luce at the height of his mastery of luminous impressionistic landscapes, no doubt as deeply affected by the beauty of the countryside as Pissarro, who made Eragny his home until his death in 1903.

CONDITION
Observed in frame, the work is in overall very good condition. LIght surface dirt, would benefit from a light cleaning. Some very fine and stable age-appropriate craquelure apparent in areas such as above the central cloud and at the right side. Inspection under UV light shows limited line retouching resembling a triangle above the buildings at the right, roughly 7 cm (2 3/4 in.) long. Very small restoration of 1 cm (3/8 in.) above and to the right of the cathedral spire.

N.B. All lots are sold in as-is condition at the time of sale. Please note that any condition statement regarding works of art is given as a courtesy to our clients in order to assist them in assessing the condition. The report is a genuine opinion held by Shapiro Auctions and should not be treated as a statement of fact. The absence of a condition report or a photograph does not preclude the absence of defects or restoration, nor does a reference to particular defects imply the absence of any others. Shapiro Auctions, LLC., including its consultants and agents, shall have no responsibility for any error or omission.