Jean-Baptiste Camille Corot (French, 1796-1875) and Achille François Oudinot (French, 1820-1891)
Le Matin Sous Les Arbres
Signed "COROT" l.l., stamped "VENTE/COROT" in red l.r., with fragmentary labels and the remnants of a red wax seal on the stretcher.
Oil on canvas, 29 7/8 x 39 1/2 in. (75.9 x 100.3 cm), unframed.
Condition: Lined.
Provenance: From the artist to Grédelue, Paris; to Eugène Le Roy, Paris (c. 1893); to Bernheim-Jeune, Paris; to Émile Favrot, Paris (1895); to Durand-Ruel, Paris; to a private collection; Sotheby's New York, 19th Century European Paintings and Sculpture, May 23, 1997, Lot 13; to the current owner.
N.B. The lot is accompanied by a copy of a letter from Martin Dieterle, dated March 21, 1997, confirming the authenticity of the painting, and Claire Lebeau has recently confirmed that the work will be included in the next supplement to the Corot catalogue raisonné. The work is also accompanied by a copy of the Sotheby's catalog from May 23, 1997, where the painting is illustrated in color on page 13.
Martin Dieterle has stated that this work was painted mainly by Corot, with the assistance of Achille François Oudinot, who was Corot's assistant and friend of more than thirty years. From his easel in Corot's studio, Oudinot provided the underdrawing for many of Corot's paintings. The painting at hand served as a transition between a small study, done by Corot c. 1850-55 (Robaut, No. 846), and Corot's 1865 Salon entry, La Bacchante Retenant L'Amour(Robaut no. 1635).
Estimate $40,000-60,000
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