The Hunt for the Majesty
Extraordinary also the Material – Vellum!!
Le Brun – Lion Hunt. One of the hunters in the middle of the scenery just grasped by the lion while another hurries up with a club. Behind mounted hunter with a spear. A single horse escaping to the left. In front right the dead lioness, in the back other partly mounted hunters under large trees. Pen and brown ink over pencil on vellum with black border line, possibly from the studio of Charles Le Brun (1619 Paris 1690). 435 x 572 mm.
Besides the delicacy of the drawing as due to the vellum
dominating work , probably as preparatory drawing for a tapestry
of the Manufacture Royale des tapisseries et des meubles de la couronne and Nic. Fouquet’s Manufacture des tapisseries resp., the director of both Le Brun, peintre du roi since 1638, had been:
“ Besides his important organisational and artistic work for the tapistry … Le Brun executed together with his assistants … executed many decorative frescos … ”
(Thieme-Becker).
The attribution to himself on the back not confirmed by Fabian Stein because of a missing personal touch although
“ some elements of the figures … (show) similarities with compositions by Le Brun … One should but not forget that Le Brun often ‘quotes’ himself in such compositions, relying on Rubens or the Italian School i. g. ”
Inventory number “No: 150” in black ink at the bottom right corner. On the verso in pencil: Ch. le Brun. – Especially in the left upper heaven and tree part stained, hardly impairing only. Overlookable also the slight undulation caused by the warmth of the artist’s hand (see Meder, Handzeichnung, p. 169). A few pin small holes, only one large like a pinhead. Centre fold took out almost completely. Otherwise in very good condition as it is remarkable for such a large old master drawing and
filled by the sumptous dynamic of rich early hunt for one of the Big Five .
Offer no. 12,353 / price on request
„ Habe heute Ihre Sendung dankend erhalten. Freue mich schon, das Buch meinem Mann … zu Weihnachten zu schenken. Liebe Grüße aus … am Dachstein “
(Frau K. G., 12. September 2007)