4
Gustave Doré
(French, 1832-1883)
Sans Lui Parler Je Me Penchai vers lui, Je Pris Le Pinçeau et J’Effaçai l’Oiseau (from Arioste\'s Roland Furieux)
Estimate: $3,000-$5,000
Sold
$5,000
Live Auction
What Do You See? The Collection of Sidney Rothberg, Part III
Location
Philadelphia
Size
16 1/4 x 12 1/2 in. (41.3 x 31.8cm)
Description
Gustave Doré
(French, 1832-1883)
Sans Lui Parler Je Me Penchai vers lui, Je Pris Le Pinçeau et J’Effaçai l’Oiseau (from Arioste's Roland Furieux)
watercolor and gouache on paper laid to card
signed G Doré (lower right)
16 1/4 x 12 1/2 in. (41.3 x 31.8cm)
The Collection of Sidney Rothberg, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
This lot is located in Philadelphia.
Condition
Unframed: 17 x 13 x 1 in.In overall fair condition. The sheet is entirely laid down, on all four corners, to the backing board. With light mat staining around the image (no more than a band of about 0 1/8 in). While the outer edges are even, we do notice slight abrasions up top at center right (on the right outer edge) as well at the center of the left outer edge (with associated paper loss, albeit minor) and a small indentation just above. Similar loss at bottom center on the bottom outer edge: all noted losses are fully covered by the mat when framed, and therefore invisible. The sheet is evenly toned, judging from the bare parts of the paper visible in between the trees. Slight air pocket at bottom right corner, likely from the mounting. The main condition issue resides in a diagonal mended tear at bottom left quadrant, stretching across the ground up to the beginning of the forest for about 5 in. Additional images available upon request.
Signature
signed G Doré (lower right)
Provenance
Unframed. Lot Essay:The present drawing is one of 618 illustrations created by Gustave Doré for Orlando Furioso, the 16th-century epic poem by Ludovico Ariosto.Often regarded as a metaphor for all literature, Orlando Furioso is celebrated as the final and finest expression of chivalric romance. It recounts the tale of Roland (Orlando), a heroic Christian knight, whose quest for love unfolds amid the backdrop of war between Charlemagne's forces and the Saracen army. In this scene, the wizard Merlin appears in the enchanted forest of Brocéliande, teaching the young knight Arthur the art of drawing.This project marked the last of Doré’s major folio illustrations for the Hachette publishing house. Unlike his earlier practice of drawing directly onto woodblocks for engraving, Doré created these compositions on paper, granting him greater artistic freedom. Today, the Orlando Furioso illustrations are considered among Doré’s most accomplished and original works.