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16
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Henri-Auguste de MONTPEZAT (Paris, 1817 – 1859) The Throw Oi…
See original version (French)
16
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Henri-Auguste de MONTPEZAT (Paris, 1817 – 1859) The Throw Oi…
See original version (French)
Estimate €4,000 - €6,000
Voluntary lot
Description
Henri-Auguste de MONTPEZAT (Paris, 1817 – 1859) The Throw Oil on canvas Signed lower left “Montpezat” 70 x 95 cm. Provenance: France, private collection
An animal painter, whose reputation rests on his equestrian portraits
of the French aristocracy, Henri-Auguste, Count de Montpezat, excelled
in hunting scenes. The Louvre Museum holds, in particular,
a series of six overdoor panels devoted to this theme, commissioned
from the artist for the apartment of Napoleon III’s First Equerry (inv.
20988–20993).
This work is very much in keeping with this tradition and bears witness to
Montpezat’s keen eye, as well as his talent for capturing
the animals’ demeanour on canvas. Brimming with vibrant colours, this
hunting scene captures all the liveliness of the favourite pastime of
the elite. Far from the static quality typical of representational paintings, the
chase unfolds here in a strongly foreshortened perspective:
dogs and horsemen emerge from the background and advance towards the viewer,
drawing them into the very heart of their frenzied pursuit. The attention paid
to natural phenomena is reflected in the treatment of the landscape,
dominated by a vast sky with imposing clouds, complemented by a
deliberately lowered horizon. The low-angled light of early morning,
hidden on the left, glints off the dogs’ coats and that
of the white horse in the foreground. The subtle chiaroscuro effects that
shape its body, right down to the bluish hues of the shadows,
emphasise the animal’s nobility, echoing the elegance of its
rider.
The painting is in a very good state of
preservation, allowing the viewer to appreciate the freshness and richness of
its pictorial quality. Light and swift, the brushstrokes
accurately render the warm tones of the autumnal foliage and
contribute to the dynamism of the scene. Subject matter and painting technique
thus come together in this work, which is remarkable for the freedom and
quality of its execution.
See original version (French)
Auto-translation. Refer to original language for legal validity.
Lot description modified on 10/13/2026 at 6:01 PM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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