An important painting by the French Romantic artist Théodore Géricault (Rouen 1791-Paris 1824) Study for “Medusas Flåde” (Louvre collection) is to be sold by the Danish auctioneers Auktionshuset A/S on the 25th June.
Born in Rouen, France, Géricault was educated in the tradition of English sporting art by Carle Vernet and classical figure composition by Pierre-Narcisse Guérin, a rigorous classicist who disapproved of his student’s impulsive temperament yet recognized his talent.[1]Géricault soon left the classroom, choosing to study at the Louvre, where from 1810 to 1815 he copied paintings by Rubens, Titian, Velázquez and Rembrandt. During this period at the Louvre he discovered a vitality he found lacking in the prevailing school ofNeoclassicism. Much of his time was spent in Versailles, where he found the stables of the palace open to him, and where he gained his knowledge of the anatomy and action of horses.
The oil on canvas measures 80,4 x 63,7 cm. With a Provenance from a Danish private collection. According to information from the heirs the painting was bought around 1940 from Danish arts dealer Holger Ferlov (1877-1954). The painting has been examined by Géricault expert Bruno Chenique who concludes that the painting is genuine. According to information the painting will be included in the forthcoming Catalogue Raissoné on Géricault. The painting has also been examined using multi-spectral techniques by Jean Penicaurt at Lumiere Technology. Copies of these reports available on request. Restored by Mme Laurence Baron-Callegari, Paris 2008-2009. Exhibited 2. June-2. September 2012 in Clermont-Ferrand. Reproduced on the cover of the catalogue. According to the Art Loss Register (September 2014) the painting is not reported stolen.
The auction house states: The piece in question stems from the estate of a Danish deceased person, and the painting must according to the ruling of Østre Landsret of 10th of May, 2016 (B-940-16) be sold at auction according to the regulations of the estate administration law’s (dødsboskifterlovens) section 58-2n. The lot is sold as is and the buyer purchases the lot at its own risk. The estate, the heirs, the public appointed authorized administrator, Gorissen Federspiel, the Head Auctioneer, Auktionshuset A/S and the Probate Court exclude all liability whatsoever for the sale of the piece.
The sale is made at the request of public appointed authorized administrator, attorney Janne Glæsel, Gorissen Federspiel.