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a painting of a river scene with boats on the waterpainting of a river scene with boats and people on the shorea picture of a window that has a wooden framea large painting hanging on the wall in a large room
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51 - Jean-François RAFFAELLI (1850–1924)
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Estimate €40,000 - €60,000
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Description
Jean-François RAFFAELLI (1850–1924) Port Saint-Nicolas with Notre Dame in the background, in Paris – circa 1910 Oil on canvas Signed lower right ‘JF RAFFAËLLI’ 63 x 108.5 cm Provenance: Sale, New York, Sotheby’s, 3 November 1999, lot 38 Galerie Brame et Lorenceau, Paris Private European collection  Auction, London, Sotheby’s, 30 May 2008, lot 350 Galerie Jean-François Heim, Paris Acquired from the gallery by the current owner on 13 March 2009 Louis Grandchamp des Raux Collection Exhibitions: Paris, Galerie Jean-François Heim, ‘Selection of master drawings and paintings from the 18th to the 20th century’, 2009, p. 70, reproduced in colour on p. 71 Oil on canvas, signed lower right; 24 3/4 x 42 3/4 in. A man of many talents – musician, actor, writer and painter – Jean-François Raffaëlli enjoyed success during his lifetime, gaining recognition from both the public and official bodies. In 1892, he left his home in Asnières to settle in the seventeenth arrondissement. The painter of the suburbs became the painter of Paris, depicting its most famous landmarks: Notre-Dame, Les Invalides, the Sainte-Chapelle, Place Saint-Michel and the Champs-Élysées. He focused on depicting its bustling boulevards, its modern architecture and the moving crowds. He thus produced numerous views of the capital, including *Le Port Saint-Nicolas*, reflecting his growing interest in urban life. Notre-Dame, a recurring motif in his work, appears in the background here, as it does in another painting held at the Cleveland Museum of Art, *Notre-Dame vue du quai de la Tournelle*¹, whilst the foreground of the composition depicts life on the quay, like a snapshot of the capital: a mother and her child out for a stroll, boatmen at work, a horse-drawn carriage moving along and a small stray dog – a familiar motif in his Parisian views. Through this teeming scene, the artist captures the reality of turn-of-the-century Paris, without idealising it, yet bathed in a joyful light. He may have been seeking to cater to affluent American tourists who could afford the luxury of such souvenirs. In 1894–1895, Raffaëlli decided to travel to the United States for a week to attend the opening of an exhibition of his works at the American Art Association in New York. He ended up staying for five months, during which time he travelled the length and breadth of the country, discovering a world that fascinated him. 1. Jean-François Raffaëlli, Notre-Dame seen from the Quai de la Tournelle, oil on canvas, 65 x 81.2 cm, no. 1953.649 Jean-François RAFFAELLI (1850–1924) 63 x 108.5 cm A man of many talents – musician, writer, actor and painter – Jean-François Raffaëlli enjoyed success during his lifetime, recognition from the public and acclaim from official bodies. In 1892 he left his home in Asnières to live in the 17th arrondissement. The painter of the suburbs became the painter of Paris, depicting the city’s most famous monuments: Notre-Dame, Les Invalides, the Sainte-Chapelle, Place Saint-Michel and the Champs-Élysées. He strove to capture the bustling boulevards, the city’s modern architecture and the crowds in motion. He painted numerous views of the capital, including *Le Port Saint-Nicolas*, reflecting his growing interest in city life. Notre-Dame, a recurring theme in his body of work, appears here in the background, just as it does in another painting in the Cleveland Museum of Art, *Notre-Dame Vue du Quai de la Tournelle* (1), whilst the foreground of the composition shows life along the quay, like a snapshot of the capital: a mother and child out for a stroll, bargemen at work, a carriage moving along and a small stray dog, a familiar subject in Parisian views. In this bustling scene, the artist presents the everyday reality of turn-of-the-century Paris, without idealising it, yet bathed in a joyful light. He may have been seeking to satisfy the wealthy American tourists who could afford the luxury of this sort of souvenir from Paris. In 1894–1895, Rafaëlli decided to travel to New York for a week-long stay to attend the opening of an exhibition of his works at the American Art Association of New York. He ended up staying there for five months, during which time he toured the country, discovering a world he found fascinating. 1. Jean-François Raffaëlli, Notre-Dame vue du quai de la Tournelle, oil on canvas, 65 x 81.2 cm, no. 1953.649
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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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