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Posted 4 years ago
jennyafrank
(10 items)
Originally I bought this because I needed a black frame for another piece of art. When I disassembled the frame I realized this wasn't a reproduction but an original piece of artwork. Any thoughts? Anyone?
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Really nice! Too bad it looks like it is laid down. Is it? If so, you might try just very gently flexing the card it is on and see if it will pop loose. I would not be too aggressive about doing it. If it doesn't come free, maybe best to just leave it alone. The card may be acidic and will eventually damage the drawing, but that will take some time and better to not damage your drawing by trying to get it free.
The proportions of the figures and motion in the piece are very good so probably by an experienced artist, even if maybe an amateur. I will take a closer look at the signature when I have time to do so. It may respond to some manipulation by my graphics program... What are the dimensions?
I took a stab at it but can only pick out a few letters. I will let it rest awhile and come back to it.
It says : A Florence, cordialement, T. Lautrec.
It might not be ‘Florence’ .... perhaps another name ???
Leave it be. Don’t fool around with it.
Good eye Kevin. T. Lautrec was Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, commonly known today as Toulouse-Latrec. He was known for doing caricatures and quick sketches. It would probably be worth having this looked at by someone to verify it is an original work and then having it appraised if it is. I have not looked at enough of his work to know what his signature looks like, so you could do that, too.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henri_de_Toulouse-Lautrec
@vetraio50 I did some digging around online and two things stand out. And I have one question, although it might be inappropriate as it relates to value.
1) YES! It does read "? ????????? cordialement, T. Lautrec" It is EXACTLY like other Lautrec signatures. EXCEPT the only time I see the "cordialement" preceding his signature is on letters he wrote. Could this be a drawing he did that was given to a friend as a way to say "thank you" for something? It looks like this was drawn from a box seat at a theater (or opera). The stage is in the left side background. Possibly a sketch he did and gave to whomever he was seated with in the box?
2. I looked through almost 2000 known Lautrec images. I ran Google Lens on it and there was no match (although it did bring up other Lautrec drawings as possible matches.) If this is a reproduction (or even an original litho) should I have found an identical image somewhere in the Lautrec catalog?
3. There are Lautrec original lithographs for sale quite frequently. (From what I read he made plenty of lithos, so that isn't a surprise.) They range from a couple of hundred dollars to $50k. Drawings and paintings are in an entirely different category. (It look like drawings start north of $500k at auction.) The appraisers I tried contacting want me to send the drawing to them for appraisal. Is it better to take this to an appraiser to start with, or contact someone at a museum (like the Denver Art Museum?)
Take it to a museum. The MoMA, if you can.
@vetraio50 @kwqd -- I can't ever thank you enough for your quick responses to my "mystery." Had you not responded so quickly I would've likely sold the drawing on Facebook for $25, never knowing who the artist was.
If anyone is interested I have an update on the drawing..... After countless hours of searching endless Toulouse-Lautrec archives, I gave up. I wasn't able to find the image in any archive, museum collection or auction record; I was denied by Christie's, Sotheby's, Skinner auction houses; ridiculed, called a liar and doubted by just about everyone including a few of my friends.
Then Heritage Auctions responded with an image of the cover of a 1921 book, "Autour de Toulouse-Lautrec" written by Paul LeClercq, edited by H. Floury. There it was, the same drawing I have, undoubtedly Toulouse-Lautrec. Heritage Auctions surmised I likely had a one 11 of the lithographs included in the book. I tracked down a digital copy of the book and learned the cover image was not part of the book. Also, the drawing I own is an original drawing. Heritage Auctions began researching a bit more and couldn't find any record of the original drawing in any collection (museum or private) or any record of it selling at an auction. It seemingly disappeared after 1921.
On Thursday February 4 I am taking it to a conservator who will hopefully confirm the age, or at least tell me that it could be as old as 1885-1900.
Thank you again for responding to my post. Without Collectors Weekly I would not be even considering the possibilities of what I may, or may not have found.
Well done you !!!