Last Renoir painting at auction in New York

[I-V]

Heritage Auctions

Unknown Renoir ( Heizvestny Renoir ) , September 19, 2013 , New York


Lot 89092

Estimate: $ 80,000 - $ 120,000

PIERRE-AUGUSTE RENOIR (French, 1841-1919)

Les Bécasses ( Woodcocks ) 1919

Oil on canvas

5-3/4 x 7-7/8 inches (14.5 x 20.1 cm)

Signed lower right (usual apocryphal signature in red): Renoir


We would like to thank renowned Renoir specialist, Virginie Journiac for authenticating this work, which will be included in her forthcoming book, Auguste Renoir.

This small picture seems to be the last painting Renoir created, on December 2nd, 1919 , just several hours before his death.
In its agony, Renoir evoked this painting, as Félix Fénéon, witness to the last moments of the master's life along with his two doctors, Dr. Prat and Dr. Duthil recounts:

Dr Duthil had killed two woodcocks and had told the master his exploit.
In his frenzy, these birds returned stubbornly and, associated to ideas of painting, were his last concern.

"Give me my pallet ...
These two woodcocks ... Turn left the woodcock ... Return me back my pallet ... I cannot paint this beak ... Hurry up, my colors ... Change the place of these woodcocks. "

He died at two o'clock in the morning Wednesday, December 3rd, 1919 .


 
It is a small painting , Renoir created December 2, 1919 , just a few hours before his death, is apparently the product of the last master. According to witnesses the last moments of his life, Felix Feneona and two doctors, Dr. Pratt and Dr. datkha , Renoir painting was almost in its death throes :

"Dr. datkha killed two woodcocks and spoke of his " heroism " Maitre . Birds , more irresistible urge to write them, did not give rest Renoir :

    - Give me my palette ! .. these woodcocks ! .. Woodcock slide to the left ... give me back my palette ... I can not write this beak ... rather, my paint! .. redistribute woodcock ...

He died at two in the morning on Wednesday , December 3, ... "

(interpretation of the IV, I will welcome your amendments )


http://www.ha.com/ - Heritage Auctions

http://fineart.ha.com/c/item.zx?saleNo=5157&lotNo=89092 - " Woodcocks " in the auction catalog


- Auction catalog

- Auction catalog

[Алек Сандер]

Is the script?
And for such a ridiculous amount of money?
Or is luring customers to inflate the price?

[Кирилл Сызранский]

Сообщение от Alec Sander, 2761411

And for such ridiculous money?

Reserve - $ 93,750 (including BP).

[Vladimir]

Сообщение от Cyril Syzransky

Allowance - $ 93,750 (including BP).

Renoir about this kind of money can buy.
Lithography.
Edition of 200 <! - ~ 1 ~ ->

[I-V]

Сообщение от Alec Sander , 2761411 "

Is the script ? And for such a ridiculous amount of money ?

Alec Sander, and what is funny? Let's posmortim estimeyty and results of some of Renoir, sold at Sotheby's for the last time :

Lot 346 ( 20.06.2013 )
Estimate: 60,000 - 80,000 Pnds (~ 95,400 - $ 127,200 )
Result: 76900 Rnds (~ $ 122,271 )

- Still Life

Lot 143 ( 08.05.2013 )
Estimate: 70,000 - $ 90,000
Result: $ 161,000



Lot 469 ( 08.05.2013 )
Estimate: 100,000 - $ 150,000
Result: $ 161,000



Lot 467 ( 08.05.2013 )
Estimate: 80,000 - $ 120,000
Result: $ 106,250


Lot 10 ( 13.03.2013 )
Estimate: 40,000 - $ 60,000
Result: $ 93,750


Lot 224 ( 06.02.2013 )
Estimate: 20 000 - 30 000 Rnds
Result: 27 500 Rnds



Lot 411 ( 07.11.2012 )
Estimate: 60,000 - $ 80,000
Result: $ 50,000



There are Christie's , the auction of others , where the situation of small format works ( sketches ) in general similar. So the estimate 80,000 - $ 120,000 for these " snipe " overpriced, in my opinion, can not be called . Score as evaluation .

Сообщение от Jane Doe; 2761521 "

, this work is offered in French Artcurial Deauville December 4, 2011 for 30-50 thousand Euro and as a result has not been SOLD !!!

Jane Doe, nothing surprising in it do not see from the above examples . Was not sold ? It must be remembered that in 2011 , if memory serves , was for the art market is not the most successful . It is likely that the hunters on the job if there was no - for the same money you could try to buy something more " distinct " from Renoir.

I do not know also if there was then already running this version is the "last picture" , but even if there was , it must be remembered that a) this is just a version b) in spite of the fact that in itself is interesting , the picture is still not book, which is important , for example , the first or any else " publications". Not the best work of the artist, probably not so easy to resell , relying solely on the interesting fact of her stories .

Сообщение от Jane Doe; 2761521 "

I think that in France , the home of Renoir, there are many professionals who were able to correctly estimate the image

You are right. One is Virginie Journiac, that Heritage Auction and thanks for your help in confirming the authenticity of the work . And this lady , no more, no less , as the director of the Museum of Renoir in Cagnes -sur -Mer (villa " Colette " and where the work was , according to the provenance , until 1969 ) - one of the most authoritative experts on Renoir in France. Her opinion probably means something ?

Сообщение от Jane Doe; 2761751 "

Now, imagine for a moment a person ( Renoir ) , which in a few hours should die of pneumonia.
The highest temperature , severe cough , often with blood, does not stop even for a half- hour. Chills , weakness, dizziness , intoxication , exhaustion, trembling hands , and so on.
And we must not imagine this moribund patient in the hands of a palette , a brush and an easel , continuously rotating heavy head on a canvas , then killed birds. It's funny, but at the same time and " birds sorry ".

I do not know where this story came to light (and is nowhere stated definitively that this is certainly the very picture ) rasskazanaya Felix Feneonom and two doctors. All I know is that the name is too Feneona known to attribute to him any stories .
 
The artist's son , Jean Renoir in his memories of the last days of his father never speaks of the " Woodcock" :

... an abundance of wealth arising from his miserly palettes, deeply concerned in the last film , which he wrote in the morning of that day , when laid down, never to rise .
Pulmonary infection caused him to leave the house . He asked for a box of paints and brushes , and wrote anemones that Nenett , our lovely maid , narwhal him . Within a few hours it was merged with these colors and forgot about the disease .
Then he signed that he took the brush, and said, " I think I'm beginning to understand something ." These words gave me a big Louise . The nurse made ​​out : " Today, I grasped something ! "

When he returned from Nice , where I went on business, I found his father already in agony. The nurse notified the Pra (Dr.Prat), who was not slow to come . He announced that this is the end . Due to rupture of the vessel Renoir fell into unconsciousness. At night he died.

From this story we see that Renoir did not lose until the last fortitude and worked as long as he could hold a brush . Does he have time to write after " anemones " " snipe "? The big question. One thing is clear : Renoir was obsessed with painting and was able on the deed for her.
This study , in my opinion , no doubt the product of Renoir , his arm .

[Кирилл Сызранский]

Сообщение от IV

This study, in my opinion, no doubt the product of Renoir, his arm.

Probably.

But, you see, given the story of a dying artist, in the last hours of his life signing etyudik small, looks fantastic, to say the least.

[I-V]

Сообщение от Cyril Syzransky ; 2765951 "

But, given the story of a dying artist , in the last hours of his life signing etyudik small , looks fantastic , to say the least .

In general, of course , you 're right. I am embarrassed that this story was not at the hearing before, given the prominence Feneona and how carefully monitor the work of Renoir, his family and entourage. This picture could not be here so no one knows " get lost " in the " Collette " given her " biography ."

In short , I would like to know the source of all this business

[Seriy]

IV, thanks for the collection of Renoir, a shocking view over the magnificent works in the Pushkin.
I wonder why he washed the paint from the canvas cloth in the sketches?

[Jane Doe]

Сообщение от IV; 2765891 "

He asked for a box of paints and brushes , and wrote anemones that Nenett , our lovely maid , narwhal him .

I wonder where you could pick anemones December 2 ? Grown in home boxes ? Pots ? Teplice ?

From the story of the son of Renoir , the closest source, can clearly see that the last work of Renoir - flowers.

[I-V]

Сообщение от Seriy; 2766161 "

shocking view over the magnificent works in the Pushkin

as with those works that are sold at auction for seven-figure sum.

Сообщение от Seriy; 2766161 "

I wonder why he washed the paint from the canvas cloth in the sketches ?

Maybe in order to give them a lightness ? And that he did you read somewhere or understood by the type of work ?

Сообщение от Jane Doe; 2766191 "

I wonder where you could pick anemones December 2 ? Grown in home boxes ? Pots ? Teplice ?

What's so surprising? Renoir owned luxury villa in the south of France, why not be anemones in his greenhouses ? Especially because as an artist he , I think, needed fresh flowers all year round.

Сообщение от Jane Doe; 2766191 "

From the story of the son of Renoir , the closest source, can clearly see that the latest work by Renoir - the flowers .

Yes, it is clearly stated :

... an abundance of wealth arising from his miserly palettes, deeply concerned in the last film , which he wrote in the morning of that day , when laid down, never to rise .
Pulmonary infection caused him to leave the house . He asked for a box of paints and brushes , and wrote anemones ...

Nevertheless, the story Feneona and doctors there . And if someone can translate from the French, here is the link :

- Where the above in French history . This , as I understand it , the book of Felix Feneona "Oeuvres plus que completes" ( someone translate please)

You can, of course, assume that someone who is reading this story, decided a hoax with the " Woodcock" . But: the game worth the candle , given their tiny size (and hence and cost) , and surely there would be counterfeiters , who so brilliantly and, most importantly , gently depicted these waders ?

And really so naive director of the museum in Cagnes -sur -Mer , which believed in it , and at the same time and in the fictional perfect provenance ?

Most likely , the picture - the original is authentic and what is the story Feneona known for a long time. But that's authentic to the story itself ? Perhaps not . Maybe "Woodcock " and was written shortly before his death , R., but absolutely " not in agony ." It may have to be witty enough already speculation - still eccentric Felix Feneon . Something like this ...