French school (XIX) - Tenerezza materna – Madre con bambino

French School of the 19th century “Tenderness of Maternal Love – Mother with Child” Oil on canvas, circa 1830–1845 Signed bottom right, signature to be identified Dimensions: 98 x 82 cm in an era-style frame Canvas: 81 x 65 cm On the back the mark of the Paris supplier “À la Palette de Rubens – Saint-Martin, Paris” Area: Romantic French painting and genre painting Signature: present at the bottom right, partially legible Canvas: bearing on the back the mark of the Parisian art materials dealer À la Palette de Rubens Description The work depicts an intimate scene of motherhood, built on the affectionate relationship between a young mother and the child lying on a cradle. The woman bends toward the infant, gently supporting the head with her right hand, while the baby returns the gaze and with one hand grasps the mother’s gown. The composition is particularly successful in the contrast between the intense red of the woman's dress, the luminous flesh tones, and the darker tones of the surrounding environment. The landscape opening on the right, with mountains, trees, and small figures, enlarges the space and gives the domestic scene an almost idealized dimension. The subject fully belongs to the Romantic sensibility of the nineteenth century, in which maternal affection and family intimacy become autonomous themes of genre painting. The stamp on the back: From the photograph: À la Palette de Rubens Rue de Seine … Paris … ST MARTIN … Fab… de couleurs This is the mark of the famous “À la Palette de Rubens,” a Parisian activity linked to Alphonse de Saint-Martin and later to the widow Saint-Martin and her brother, suppliers of canvases, colors and materials for artists. The data is significant because almost identical marks are documented in the Louvre collections: “À la Palette de Rubens / rue de Seine N°6 Paris / Alph. St-Martin / Fab. de couleurs”. There is also a later variant “Vve de St Martin & Frère / Toiles & couleurs / Tableaux / Rue de Seine n°4”, documented both by the Louvre and Paris Musées. Condition Report The work shows an overall fair state of preservation for its age. The surface shows craquelure and normal signs of aging, with abrasions and localized wear; several surface irregularities and possible prior conservation interventions are visible. On the back there is documentation of an antique canvas with evident time traces and at least one localized intervention/darning, exactly where the mark is located. The gilded frame, in nineteenth-century taste, shows normal signs of use, abrasions and small losses compatible with its age. *** Photograph note The photographic images of the work were taken with professional studio lighting and spotlights to allow better readability of the composition, details, and paint surface. This lighting may cause slight variations in color perception and brightness compared with viewing the work directly. The photographs are solely for illustrative and documentary purposes. *** Note on the frame The frame is attached to the work as a courtesy perk and is not an integral part of the lot nor a determinant element for the economic valuation of the work. Therefore, any damage, breakage, detachments or deterioration of the frame occurring during transport cannot be the subject of compensation claims or disputes, the sale referring exclusively to the painted work. Shipped insured in a wooden case

Estimate:£1,271.41

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