Comtesse de Toulouse-Lautrec
Tapié de Céleyran, Paris
H. Bénézit, Paris
Katia Granoff, Paris
Charles Mills, Chamant
Vente : Sotheby's, Londres, 6 décembre 1978, lot 22
Acquis lors de cette vente par le propriétaire actuel 

Maurice Joyant, Dessins-Estampes-Affiches, Paris, 1927, p. 251
Marie Tapié de Céleyran, "Our Uncle Lautrec", The Cornhill Magazine, 1951, illustré p. 4
Marie Tapié de Céleyran, Notre Oncle Lautrec, Paris, 1956, pl. 12, illustré n.p.
M. G. Dortu, Toulouse-Lautrec et son œuvre, New York, 1971, vol. II, pl. 3, illustré n.p.

The panel is sound. There are some scattered small spots of foxing mostly to the sky (visible with the naked eye). There are 3 scattered dots of retouching and a 5cm. intermittent line of retouching running horizontally in the upper left quadrant. There is a thin partially retouched line of craquelure running horizontally in the lower left quadrant. Apart from a 1.5cm. horizontal line of retouching in the upper right quadrant, this work is in good condition.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

signed 'H.T.L. d'après Goubie' (lower right), oil on panel. Painted in 1878.

Connu pour ses scènes de la vie nocturnes parisienne, Toulouse Lautrec est rapidement remarqué pour sa virtuosité artistique. L'artiste présente en effet très jeune de réelles dispositions pour le dessin 🍸ce qui lui vaut de suivre, dès 1875, une formation chez le peintre animalier René Princeteau. L'élève, à l'instar de son maitr⛦e, est passionné par les chevaux qui deviennent alors son sujet de prédilection. Très vite, le talent précoce de l'élève suscite l'admiration de son maître qui vante alors " la vivacité et l'agilité de son pinceau".

En 1878, le jeune artiste, imprégné des scènes de chasse du peintre Jean-Richard Goubie que sa famille collectionne, peint "Monsieur", un portrait présumé de son père, représenté sur un attelage en tandem. Dans ce portrait touchant, Lautrec emprunte à Princeteau le sujet équestre et s'imprègne également de sa technique très agile : les coups de brosse sont nerveux et les chevaux, par leur anatomie légèrement brossée et leur musculature détaillée, sont une preuve de la virtuosité du jeune Lautrec. Cette œuvre de jeunesse, qui laisse pressentir les qualités qui feront la renommée de Toulouse-Lautrec, appar🦋aît ainsi comme un touchant témoꦡignage du talent dont l'artiste fait preuve dès 1878.

 

Known for his scenes of Parisian night life, Toulouse Lautrec's artistic virtuosity became evident early on in his career.  When he was very young, the artist demonstrated real talent as a draughtsman, so much so that as early as 1875 he began studying under the guidance of the wildlife painter René Princeteau.  Like his master he was passionate about horses and they soon became his subject matter of choice.  His precocious talent very quickly attracted the admiration of his teacher who praised "the vivacity and agility of his♉ paintbrush".

It was in this context that in 1878 t🐬he young artist, aged just 14 years old, painted "Monsieur", a  presumed portrait of his father, depicted riding a two-horse carriage.  In this touching portrait, Lautrec borrows the equestrian subject from Princeteau and also immerses himself in his extremely agile technique: the dynamic brushstrokes, reworked in the pictorial mass and the horses, whose bodies are lightly sketched but whose musculature is richly detailed, are proof of the young Lautrec's virtuosity.  This adolescent work, where we discern the qualities that would later cement Toulouse-Lautrec's reputation, here appear as a touching testament to the talent demonstrated by the artist as early as 1878.