Lot n° 16
Estimation :
4000 - 6000
EUR
Result without fees
Result
: 3 900EUR
Henri-Auguste de MONTPEZAT (Paris, 1817–1859) The Throw Oil - Lot 16
Henri-Auguste de MONTPEZAT (Paris, 1817–1859) The Throw Oil on canvas Signed lower left “Montpezat” 70 x 95 cm. Provenance: France, private collection
An animal painter whose reputation rests on his equestrian portraits
of the French aristocracy, Henri-Auguste Comte de Montpezat excelled
at hunting scenes. The Louvre Museum holds, in particular,
a series of six overdoor paintings dedicated to this theme, commissioned
from the artist for the apartment of Napoleon III’s First Equerry (inv.
20988–20993).
This work is fully in keeping with this tradition and attests to
Montpezat’s keen eye, as well as his talent for capturing
the animals’ poses on canvas. Brimming with vibrant colors, this
hunting scene conveys all the liveliness of the favorite pastime of
the elite. Far from the static quality typical of representational paintings, the
chase unfolds here in a strongly foreshortened perspective:
dogs and riders emerge from the background and advance toward the viewer,
drawing them into the very heart of their frenzied pursuit. The attention paid
to natural phenomena is evident in the treatment of the landscape,
dominated by a vast sky with imposing clouds, complemented by a
deliberately lowered horizon. The low-angled light of early morning,
hidden on the left, glints off the dogs’ coats and that
of the white horse in the foreground. The subtle chiaroscuro effects that
shape its body, right down to the bluish hues of the shadows,
emphasize the animal’s nobility, echoing the elegance of its
rider.
The painting is in very good condition,
allowing one to appreciate the freshness and richness of
its pictorial quality. Light and swift, the brushstrokes
accurately render the warm tones of the autumn foliage and
contribute to the scene’s dynamism. Subject matter and painting technique
thus come together in this work, which is remarkable for the freedom and
quality of its execution.
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