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Estimate €30,000 - €40,000
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Maurice DENIS Madame Laure in Vaucluse – circa 1931 Oil on cardboard 33 x 25 cm Provenance: Galerie Pelletan-Helleu, Paris David David-Weill Collection (1871–1952), acquired at the gallery’s exhibition in 1936 Work looted, then returned on 12 June 1945 (Répertoire des biens spoliés en France durant la guerre 1939–1945, Paris, 1947, vol. II, p. 178, no. 3961) Auction, Paris, Ader et Picard, D. David-Weill Collection, Drawings and Paintings, 9 and 10 June 1971, lot 302 Galerie Bérès, Paris (acquired during this auction) Acquired from the gallery by the current owner on 7 January 2015 Louis Grandchamp des Raux Collection Exhibitions: Paris, 10th Salon des Tuileries, Néo Parnasse, from 27 May 1932, no. 497a or no. 497b (the triptych is on display) Probably, Paris, Grand Palais, Société des Artistes Indépendants. Fiftieth-anniversary exhibition, February–March 1934, no. 1224 (under the title ‘Illustrations for Petrarch’ – this triptych or the other one?) Paris, Galerie Pelletan-Helleu, Maurice Denis. Paintings, watercolours, drawings, lithographs, illustrations, May–June 1936 (the triptych is on display) Paris, Galerie Huguette Bérès, Maurice Denis 1870–1943, June–July 1992, no. 75, reproduced (the triptych was exhibited; only this painting is reproduced) Bibliography: C. Gaboriau, *Maurice Denis (1870–1943): Illustrator. The Practice of a Book Artist, Key Figures and Networks*, PhD thesis in Art History, supervised by Marianne Grivel, Sorbonne University, Paris, 2023, vol. I, pp. 409–410 and vol. II, pp. 390–391 This work will be included in the catalogue raisonné of Maurice Denis’s works currently being prepared by Claire Denis and Fabienne Stahl, under catalogue number 931.0019. This work was the central panel of a triptych illustrating scenes from Petrarch’s *Rimes* or *Sonnets*. Oil on cardboard; 13 x 9 7/8 in. As the central panel of a triptych illustrating scenes from Petrarch’s *Rimes* or *Sonnets*, this painting depicts Madame Laure, the poet’s great love, who features throughout his literary work. It forms part of a more ambitious project undertaken by Maurice Denis to illustrate the translation of the *Rimes* produced by his friend Henry Cochin. A specialist in Italian Renaissance literature and a committed politician, Cochin had previously collaborated with Denis on the illustrations for his translation of Dante’s *Vita Nova*, published in 1907 by *Le Livre contemporain*. Towards the end of 1895, the painter also received a commission from Henry’s brother, Denys Cochin: a large decorative scheme comprising seven panels and a ceiling on the theme of *The Legend of Saint Hubert*, intended for the smoking room of his townhouse on Rue de Babylone in Paris. The illustration project, begun around 1930, was unfortunately abandoned, due to the crisis in the publishing industry and Cochin’s death in 1938. Denis had, however, already produced twelve works on the intended theme, including at least two triptychs: the first features *Madame Laure in Vaucluse* in the centre, flanked by *Madame Laure as a Lavender-Washerwoman* and *The Serpent*, whilst the second is held at the Musée des Beaux-Arts in Dijon. Some of the paintings were sold during his lifetime, though the artist retained a list of buyers in case the project might yet come to fruition. No engravings were produced, with the exception of a single trial print for one of the paintings in the series. This painting, for which no preparatory drawing has been identified to date, illustrates Song CXXVI, ‘Madame Laure in Vaucluse. Joy and Sorrow’, in the collection of selected works by Francesco Petrarca, translated by Henry Cochin and published by La Renaissance du Livre in 1921. A certificate of digital inclusion from Ms Claire Denis and Ms Fabienne Stahl will be issued to the purchaser. Maurice DENIS 33 x 25 cm At the centre of a triptych depicting scenes from Petrarch’s *The Rime Sparse* (*il Canzoniere*), is this painting of Laura, the poet’s great love, who features throughout his literary work. It formed part of a more ambitious project undertaken by Maurice Denis to illustrate the translation of the book, *Rimes*, produced by his friend Henry Cochin. A specialist in Italian Renaissance literature and a politically active figure, Cochin had already collaborated with Denis on the illustrations for his translation of Dante’s *Vita Nova*, published in 1907 by *Le Livre Contemporain*. Towards the end of 1895, the painter also received a commission from Henry’s brother, Denys Cochin, for a large decorative work comprising seven panels and a ceiling on the theme of *La Légende de Saint-Hubert*, intended for the smoking room of his private mansion on Rue de Babylone in Paris. This project for illustrations, which began around 1930, was unfortunately abandoned due to the crisis in the publishing industry at the time and Cochin’s death in 1938. Denis had, however, already produced twelve works on the planned theme, including at least two triptychs: the first features *Madame Laure à Vaucluse* in the centre, flanked by *Madame Laure en lavandière* and *Le Serpent*, whilst the second is now in the Musée des Beaux-Arts in Dijon. Some of the paintings were sold during his lifetime, though the artist kept a list of the buyers in case the project were to come to fruition. No prints were produced, with the exception of a single test print for one of the paintings in the series. This painting, for which no preparatory sketch has been identified to date, illustrates Song CXXVI, ‘Madame Laure à Vaucluse. Joie et Douleur’, in the collection of selected works by Petrarch translated by Henry Cochin and published by La Renaissance du Livre in 1921.
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About the sale The Louis Grandchamp des Raux Collection
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Auction time 10/24/2026 at 4:00 PM
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