Sold by Renoir to Durand-Ruel

[Pierre Tavlitzki]

Three Renoir, one Pissarro, one Sisley, in the press release of a sale of Impressionist and modern art, this is not really outstanding. Except that almost all these works were purchased directly to the artists by Paul Durand-Ruel and all had been kept by his family.

Durand-Ruel died in 1922. For a long time the masterpieces of his collection were dispersed, and what remains may not have much importance. But it is an opportunity to remind that if this exceptional trader had not been so active the Impressionists should have never been successful and might be all dead in poverty.

Durand-Ruel purchased hundreds of their works and held exhibitions in Paris, but also in London and New York. Remarkably aware of the difficulties of artistic life, he brought for their benefit his financial talents and his skills of event manager.

This sale will take place at Sotheby's in New York on November 4. The most important work of this group, estimated $ 2.5 million, was made in the early 1890s. It is a young woman painted by Renoir, with an extravagant hat and a prominent blouse. Seen on the web, it is not beautiful. A Renoir is never beautiful on the web, but the direct view of the work always changes the opinion of the visitor.

[Pierre Tavlitzki]

Result consistent with the estimate for this work which was especially remarkable for its provenance: $ 2.9 million including premium.

Additional information: A more precise date (1892) was indicated in a video seen on the website of Sotheby's.