Private Collection, United States (acquired circa 1995)
Thence by descent

The work has an old lining and has been recently cleaned. The colors are fresh and vibrant. There is a stable web of fine craquelure in the darker pigments. Under UV: retouching of prior frame abrasion is visible on the upper and lower edges. A few additional scattered dots of retouching are visible on the surface.
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.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Gabriel Loppé was a French painter, photographer and mountaineer, making over forty ascents of Mont Blanc during his career. At the age of twenty-one, Loppé climbed a small mountain in the Languedoc, found a group of painters sketching on the summit en plein-air, and found his passion. Largely self-taught, Loppé was among the first painters to capture glaciers at such high altitudes, and found success through exhibitions in London and Paris. His photograph of lightning striking the Eiffel Tower (1902) is in the collection of the Musée d’Orsay.