Back
Impressionist and Modern Art
|
- Sale 6342
Live
| Philadelphia
Apr 30 | 10:00 AM EDT
Live
| Philadelphia
Sale 6342
| Philadelphia
| Philadelphia
Estimate$40,000 – $60,000
Provenance:
Sotheby's, New York, sale of April 10, 1987.
Sotheby's, New York, sale of May 8, 2008.
Sotheby's, New York, sale of February 12, 2009.
Acquired directly from the above sale.
Private Collection, New York, New York.
Literature:
Antoine Laurentin, Ferdinand du Puigaudeau, Catalogue raisonné de l'œuvre peint, Vol. II, Paris, 2023, no. II-82, p. 98 (illustrated).
Lot Essay:
Born in Nantes into a family of shipowners and sailors, Ferdinand du Puigaudeau was destined to capture the ever-changing moods of the sea. Eschewing formal training at the École des Beaux-Arts, he honed his artistic eye during extensive travels across Europe, as well as in Tunisia and Sweden, where he developed his distinctive pointillist style.
In 1904, Puigaudeau returned to Venice, a city that had long fascinated him. During this visit, and before permanently settling in Brittany, he produced nearly fifty works, portraying La Sérénissime from every possible perspective, by moonlight, beneath fireworks, along the Grand Canal etc. Venice stimulated Puigaudeau's skills and sensitivity as both a painter and a poet of atmosphere. On canvas, he transformed the city into a luminous symphony of light, color, and reflection.
The present work offers a more contemplative and unusual view: rather than focusing on the heart of Venice, Puigaudeau here turns his gaze outward to the quiet islet of San Michele, en route to Murano (a glimpse of which can be seen in the horizon). Rendered in delicate, shimmering dots of color, the painting exemplifies Puigaudeau’s mastery of the pointillist technique, and straining application to depicting the effects of light. Bathed in diffused, pearlescent light, the water glows with broken reflections, like a mosaic composed of millions of blue, silver, and soft lavender tiles, thus creating an atmosphere that feels both ethereal and hypnotic. The sunlit façade of the 10th-century Church of San Michele in Isola glows with subtle warmth, anchored by its soaring 130-foot campanile. The striking lavender sail to the left, catching the wind mid-passage, seems to embody the transience of life and the passage of time—a poignant counterpoint to the somber stillness of the cypress trees at center right, which signal the presence of the island’s famed cemetery, eternal resting place of cultural giants such as Stravinsky and Diaghilev.
To request further details about this lot, please email [email protected]
The unlined canvas in overall very condition, with a very well preserved touch and bright colors. Examination under UV light reveals scattered retouching in localized areas of the canvas: most are concentrated in the background, leaving the composition itself completely intact. First, along the top, outer edge. We also see repairs at upper left corner (well above the sails) and in the center of the sky (on either side of the campanile, leaving the building itself intact). Some similar repairs in the upper right corner and lightly along the right outer edge. Small inpainting on the brick fence of the cemetery at center right. The water is mostly untouched save for localized inpainting at the bottom left corner (the signature is intact) and around the flying seagulls. Additional images available upon request.
The physical condition of lots in our auctions can vary due to age, normal wear and tear, previous damage, and restoration/repair. All lots are sold "AS IS," in the condition they are in at the time of the auction, and we and the seller make no representation or warranty and assume no liability of any kind as to a lot's condition. Any reference to condition in a catalogue description or a condition report shall not amount to a full accounting of condition. Condition reports prepared by Freeman's staff are provided as a convenience and may be requested from the Department prior to bidding.
The absence of a posted condition report on the Freeman's website or in our catalogues should not be interpreted as commentary on an item's condition. Prospective buyers are responsible for inspecting a lot or sending their agent or conservator to inspect the lot on their behalf, and for ensuring that they have requested, received and understood any condition report provided by Freeman's.
Please email [email protected] for any additional information or questions you may have regarding this lot.
