Marcel Nicolle’s Copy

AUCTION CATALOGUE: CONSTANTIN, Guillaume Jean & HENRY, Bon Thomas, experts.

Catalogue des Tableaux, Gouaches, Dessins, Estampes, Tabatières à médaillon, Bronzes, Marbres, Meubles de marquetterie et autres, Pendules, Pierres gravées, Bijoux divers, etc. etc., composant la Collection de feu M. A. L. C. H. T. de L’Espinasse, de Langeac, Comte d’Arlet… Dont la Vente se fera le 4 janvier 1815, et jours suiv…

48 pp. 8vo (215 x 140 mm.), cont. blue wrappers bound in 20th-cent. cloth-backed marbled boards, title on spine. Paris: Constantin & Henry, 1814.

A scarce auction catalogue jointly compiled by Constantin (1755-1816) and Henry (1766-1836). The announced owner, l’Espinasse de Langeac (d. 1814), was a minor dealer whose stock had constituted large portions of anonymous sales in 1808 and 1809. This is the final dispersal linked to him.

This catalogue contains 333 lots of paintings, drawings, prints, decorative arts, sculpture, and furniture. Among the varied array of pictures (lots 1-267), we find the work of Weenix, A. Bega, A. Bloemaert, Fabritius, Mieirs, Cuyp, L. Bakhuizen, B. van der Helst, Veronese, van den Eeckhout, C. Le Brun, Largillière, Steen, Hoet, Matsys, Gentileschi, Lairesse, Kalf, etc., etc. The majority of the entries have concise descriptions and technical notes.

In fine condition. Ownership inscription of Marcel Nicolle (1871-1934), curator at the Louvre and critic, on the upper wrapper, and stamp of the Bibliothèque Heim on verso of title.

❧ Lugt 8630. For the authoritative account of Constantin’s life, see J. Jacoby, Guillaume Jean Constantin, 1755-1816: A Drawings Dealer in Paris (2018), and Lugt Marques (online resource) 3000. And for information on Henry’s life, see Oxford Art Online.

Price: $750.00

Item ID: 8242