Paul Bérard, Château de Wargemont, France
Private Collection (sale: Sotheby's, London, 26th June 1990, lot 20)
Private Collection (purchased at the above sale)
Acquired from the above by the present owner in 1993

Tokyo, Isetan Museum of Art & Kyoto, Municipal Museum, Renoir, 1979, no. 22, illustrated in colour in the catalogue

Maurice Bérard, Renoir à Wargemont, Paris, 1938, illustrated pl. 15 & 16
François Daulte, Renoir, Milan, Paris & Tokyo, 1972,  illustrated p. 89
François Daulte, 'Renoir et la Famille Bérard' in L'Oeil, Paris, February 1974, p. 89
Guy Patrice & Michel Dauberville, Renoir. Catalogue raisonné des tableaux, pastels, dessins et aquarelles, 1858-1881, Paris, 2007, vol. I, no. 8, illustrated p. 112

The artist's original panel has been cradled and this is sound. There are three vertical repaired joins running the length of the composition. These are approximately 5cm from the left edge, 22cm from the right edge and 12cm from the right edge. There is also an old repaired split running down from the centre left of the upper horizontal edge, and a further minor split running up from the centre of the lower edge. These are all stable. UV examination reveals some lines of retouching corresponding to the joins and splits mentioned above and some minor retouchings around some of the knots in the panel and some further small spots and lines. There are several knots within the artist's original panel which are mainly concentrated towards the edges of the composition and which are entirely stable.There are some fine lines of craquelure in places mainly within the upper centre of the background. Otherwise, his work is in overall 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."

The present work was painted circa1879 at Château de Wargemont, renowned for its fine rose garden. It is one of several flower compositions that  Bérard commissioned from Renoir as decorations for his house, and this particular example was initially executed for the grand library.

Paul Bérard (1833-1905), diplomat and banker, first met Renoir in 1879 and they quickly became close friends: Renoir certainly held Bérard in great trust and even used him as his financial adviser. Up until Bérard's death, Renoir often visited him at his house in rue Pigalle in Paris and at the Château de Wargemont, near Dieppe. At Wargemont, Renoir found a peaceful and carefree place in which to paint. As well as the many flower paintings, of which the present work is an excellent example, Renoir painted Bérard, his wife and their children a number of times, the best-known work being the magnificent composition of 1884, L'Après-midi des Enfants à Wargemont - now in the Nationalgalerie, Berlin - depicting Madame Bérard and her three daughters in one 🎶of the grand rooms at the Château.