Le Figaro Bordeaux
The drawing is signed by the hand of a young artist, who still used his first name: Oscar Monet. Born Oscar-Claude Monet and became famous under his middle name, which was his preference, the French painter belongs to the number of great impressionists who have entered posterity. These Water Lilies are a dream come true at the Musée de l'Orangerie in Paris, and each leaf signed by his hand arouses great excitement. One of them was found in the home of a resident of Andernos, in the Arcachon basin, six months ago. Under his pencil appear the features of a man, who could be one of his contemporaries: the French painter Jules Didier.
Although it will perhaps never be possible to confirm the identity of the model whose portrait the young Claude Monet took, the leaflet is authenticated. It would
a priori
have been created between 1857 and 1860.
“It’s a great discovery, because Monet is one of the 25 greatest painters in the world
,” rejoices Florian Allar. Asked by its owner, the expert in Girondin art had the good intuition to request the expertise. Conducted by the Wildenstein Institute, a reference on the work of the impressionist, the plate is estimated between 30,000 and 40,000 euros. And it is to be sold at auction by Jean Dit Cazaux & Associés on April 18 in Bordeaux.
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Full signature
“This drawing by Claude Monet is very interesting because it is entirely signed and not just monogrammed, which is very rare in drawings found and authenticated
,” Master Philippe Royère immediately emphasizes. A notable characteristic for which this caricature will be added to the painter's catalog raisonné (in other words the inventory of his work) by the Wildenstein Institute. An important distinction for collectors according to the auctioneer, who also approves his estimate.
“It is not an oil, so this drawing should not be sold three times its estimate, but it may experience a small overrun
,” he gauges.
The reasons which pushed the owner of this Claude Monet to part with it remain unknown. According to Maître Philippe Royère, it would be an inheritance, in the possession of his family since a purchase in an auction room in Saône-et-Loire, in 1965. If the deed of transfer exists, the exact amount of the auction taken at the time has not been found. However, this drawing by Monet could already have found a buyer: an interest has already been expressed to the auctioneer in it.