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10 - Jean-Baptiste Camille COROT (1796–1875)
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Estimate €70,000 - €100,000
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Description
Jean-Baptiste Camille COROT (1796–1875) Path through the Woodland – circa 1840–1845 Oil on paper mounted on canvas Trace of a signature in the lower right-hand corner 27.5 x 37.5 cm Provenance: Collection of the painter André Julien Prévost, France, c. 1873 Probably sold at his auction, Paris, Hôtel Drouot, 24 May 1887 Probably from the collection of Mrs Marguerite Harth (1875–1951), wife of Alfred Pacquement (1872–1948), Paris  Passed down to his daughter Germaine Pacquement, wife of Robert Trocmé (1887–1970), Paris, 1955 (according to a label on the reverse)  Auction, Paris, Audap & Mirabaud, 17 June 2015, lot 47 Acquired at this auction by the current owner Louis Grandchamp des Raux Collection Exhibitions: Paris, Galerie Beaux-Arts, 1850–1950: Paintings from Parisian Collections, April–May 1955, no. 30 (Titled *Sous-bois, Ville d’Avray*, according to a label on the reverse) Bibliography: A. Robaut, *L’œuvre de Corot: catalogue raisonné et illustré*, Volume II, Paris, H. Floury, 1905, p. 202, no. 569, reproduced on p. 203 (sketch).  La Gazette Drouot, no. 23, 12 June 2015, reproduced on p. 85 Oil on paper mounted on canvas; 10 7/8 x 13 3/4 in. The painting, dated to the years 1840–1845, depicts a woodland landscape bathed in soft light. The sun’s rays filter through the foliage, casting the shadows of the slender tree trunks onto the ground. Jean-Baptiste Camille Corot painted from life with a vibrant brushstroke, bringing the vegetation to life; one can almost hear the rustling of the leaves in the wind. There are few clues to help us identify the location depicted. At its 1955 exhibition, the painting was titled *Sous-bois à Ville-d’Avray*, whilst when it came up for sale in 2015, Normandy was also suggested as the location, without further detail. This hypothesis can be supported by a comparison with other works by Corot painted near Honfleur. One of these, *La Côte de Grâce, près de Honfleur*¹, depicts a tree-lined path near a cliff. The slender trees and the light seem to link the two works. Another, *Calvaire à Honfleur* (New York, Metropolitan Museum of Art), also features this same sandy path beneath the trees, as well as a similar colour palette. Our painting is a precious testament to his intimate relationship with nature, which he captures in all its harshness and raw light. He excels at imbuing it with a texture all of its own, capturing through his brush the physical sensations of experiencing nature and thus managing to breathe a unique vigour into his landscapes.   1. Anonymous sale; New York, Christie’s, 25 May 1984, lot 52 Jean-Baptiste Camille COROT (1796–1875) 27.5 x 37.5 cm The painting, dating from the years 1840–1845, depicts a wooded landscape bathed in soft light. The sunlight shines through the leaves, casting the shadows of the slender trees’ trunks onto the ground. Jean-Baptiste Corot paints from nature with a vibrant brushstroke that brings the vegetation to life, and one can almost hear the sound of the wind rustling through the leaves. There are few clues to help us identify the location depicted. At its 1955 exhibition, the painting was titled *Sous-bois à Ville-d’Avray*, but when it came up for sale in 2015, Normandy was also suggested, albeit without further detail. This theory can be supported by comparing other works by Corot painted near Honfleur. One of these, *La Côte de Grâce, près de Honfleur* (1), depicts a tree-lined path near a cliff top. The slender trees, like the light, seem to link the two works. Another painting, *Calvaire à Honfleur* (New York, Metropolitan Museum of Art), also features this same sandy path beneath the trees, as well as a similar colour palette. Our painting is a precious testament to the artist’s intimate connection with nature, which he captured in all its harshness and raw light. Corot excelled at giving it a distinct texture, using his brush to capture the physical sensations of experiencing nature and thus managing to breathe a unique power into his landscapes. 1. Anonymous sale; Christie’s New York, 25 May 1984, lot 52
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About the sale The Louis Grandchamp des Raux Collection
Auction location
Auction time 10/24/2026 at 4:00 PM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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