Sébastien Bourdon

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Sébastien Bourdon

1616-1671

Group of Peasants Resting and a Boy Drinking from a Bowl

1636-37

Black chalk, white opaque watercolor, on light brown laid paper; verso rubbed lightly with red chalk; traced for transfer with stylus.

4 15/16 x 6 5/16 inches (127 x 170 mm)

Purchased as the gift of Mrs. Charles Wrightsman.

1986.59

Notes:

A Protestant artist at a time of religious persecution, Bourdon fled Montpellier in 1622 after it was besieged by royal forces. He journeyed to Paris and then Rome to try his fortune. There, in the mid-1630s, he associated with other foreigners, including the Dutch artist Pieter van Laer and his followers, known for their scenes of peasants and beggars. The present drawing served as the basis for one of Bourdon's earliest etchings, The Young Boy Drinks (ca. 1636-37; see acc. no. (P)1986.59). Similar peasant scenes are also found in Bourdon's paintings from this period. -- Exhibition Label, From "Poussin, Claude, and French Drawing in the Classical Age"

Inscription:

Watermark: none.
Inscribed at lower left, in pen and brown ink, "Bourdon"; inscribed on verso, "13", "No. 6" (canceled), and "M".

Provenance:

Jacques Petit-Horry (1929-1992), Paris.

Associated names:

Petit-Horry, Jacques, former owner.
Wrightsman, Jayne, donor.

Bibliography:

Ryskamp, Charles, ed. Twenty-First Report to the Fellows of the Pierpont Morgan Library, 1984-1986. New York : Pierpont Morgan Library, 1989, p. 322.

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Artist page:

Bourdon, Sébastien