Galerie Lespinasse, Rouen
Sale: Ivoire France, Saint Etienne, November 26, 2015, lot 99
Acquired at the above sale by the present owner

Francois Lespinasse, Albert Lebourg, Arras, 1983, p. 122, illustrated pp. 120-121

The medium is oil on canvas. The canvas has been lined. There is some minor frame rubbing. The varnish appears to be very slightly browned. Under UV: The varnish fluoresces a light green. There are a handful of very small dots and dashes of inpainting near the top visible edge. There is a roughly 2-2.5 in. long vertical line of inpainting in the center of the left half of the canvas: this retouching is also visible to the naked eye. The colors are vivid and the medium is strong: the work presents very well.
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.

Léon Roger-Milès (1859-1928), to whom the present work was dedicated, was a historian and editor-in-chief of the magazines Le Monde Poétique and Le Figaro Illustré. He was an art critic as well, commenting regularly on the various salons and exhibitions which abounded in late 19th century Paris. At the 1897 Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts exhibition (from which the city of Paris bought his painting of Notre Dame), Albert Lebourg showed several works from his recent stay in Holland. Roger-Milès expressed great appreciation for these in his review in the April edition of the magazine L’éclair: “[Albert Lebourg] has sharpened the expression of his sensations… to whose charm one cannot help but succumb. Nature, as he sees it, with both its lightness and depth of atmosphere…its explosions of light: therein lies the expressive interpretation to which A. Lebourg applies himself so assiduously, and it is marvelous to observe with with what great pleasure and variety of color he is able to adapt his expression. The different picturesque views of Canal à Rotterdam,… Canal à Delft, etc. are excellent paintings which permit the viewer once again to admire this artist’s vigorous talent…”. (Francois Lespinasse, Albert Lebourg, Arras, 1983, p. 123)