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50 - Stanislas LÉPINE (1835–1892)
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Estimate €12,000 - €18,000
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Description
Stanislas LÉPINE (1835–1892) Sailing ships in the Saint-Pierre basin at Caen, right bank – circa 1858–1859 Oil on canvas Signed lower right “S. Lépine” 36 x 55.5 cm Provenance: Galerie Brame & Lorenceau, Paris, no. 2524 Auction, New York, Sotheby’s, 16 May 1984, lot 343 Auction, Auxerre, Auxerre Enchères, 14 February 2016, lot 119 Acquired at the latter auction by the current owner Louis Grandchamp des Raux Collection Bibliography: Brame & Lorenceau, 150 Years with the Masters, Paris, 2014, reproduced on p. 110 La Gazette Drouot, no. 6, 12 February 2016, reproduced on p. 79 Oil on canvas, signed lower right; 14 1/8 x 21 5/8 in.   Positioned between the poetic legacy of Jean-Baptiste Corot and the luminous modernity of Claude Monet, Stanislas Lépine emerges as one of the forerunners of Impressionist landscape painting. Between 1858 and 1880, Lépine stayed on numerous occasions in Caen, his hometown, where he painted many works: views of the city, the Bassin Saint-Pierre or the Abbaye aux Dames, captured in broad daylight or under a ‘moonlit effect’. Our painting forms part of this series of seascapes, in which sailing boats glide poetically across the water, much like in the works of Eugène Boudin. It depicts a view of sailing boats in the Bassin Saint-Pierre, the maritime heart of this Norman city. The deliberately low horizon line, giving way to a sky dotted with clouds, is emphasised by the alignment of the quays and the boats moored in the calm waters of the basin. Here, Lépine favours a restricted palette, with delicate shades of white, cream and bluish-grey, which subtly convey the dampness of the air and the Normandy light. Only two human figures appear on a small boat, rare living witnesses to this silent scene. With their peaceful atmosphere and suspended sense of time, these views of the Caen harbour stand apart from the industrial scenes painted by the Impressionists, offering a more timeless vision of modernity. The authenticity of this work was confirmed by Manuel Schmit during its last auction in 2016. Stanislas LÉPINE (1835–1892) 36 x 55.5 cm Standing between the poetic legacy of Jean-Baptiste Corot and the luminous modernity of Claude Monet, Stanislas Lépine emerges as one of the precursors of Impressionist landscape painting. Between 1858 and 1880, Lépine stayed on numerous occasions in Caen, his hometown, where he painted many works: views of the city, the Bassin Saint-Pierre or the Abbaye aux Dames, captured by day or under a ‘moonlit effect’. This painting forms part of a series of seascapes in which sailing boats glide poetically across the water, much like in the works of Eugène Boudin. It depicts a view of the sailing boats in the Bassin Saint-Pierre, the maritime heart of this Normandy town. The deliberately low horizon line, giving way to a sky dotted with clouds, is emphasised by the alignment of the quays and boats moored in the calm waters. Here, Lépine favours a limited palette of delicate whites, creams and bluish-greys, subtly conveying the humidity in the air and the clear Normandy light. Only two human figures appear on a boat, rare living witnesses to this silent scene. With their peaceful atmosphere and sense of time standing still, these views of the Caen basin stand out from the industrial scenes painted by the Impressionists, offering a more timeless vision of modernity.
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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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