Researching A Painting In The Manner Of Renoir.

You wont find the artist since it's a copy..good luck with it. Also take it to a local gallery for closer inspection if your not satisfied.

 

I will say this again - it is not a known copy. I have checked the catalogue raisonne by Bernheim Jeune and if you are not sure what a catalog raisonne is then do a search on the internet. But basically is is a big book (in the case of Bernheim Jeune a number of volumes) listing and showing every known work by a specific artist as well as documenting the provenance for each work. The big auction houses like Sotheby's and Christies will not accept works for auction unless they are in the accepted catalogues for that artist.

 

Take it to a local gallery and they can tell what you have. Goodluck

 

Anyway to get back to the thrust of my original message I am looking for anyone who might have any old auction or exhibition records that might detail this picture. I have been in touch with a number of specialists and my plan of action is to try to determine pre WW2 provenance if possible. Then I will approach Art Analysis and Research (who I have been in touch with in relation to other works) in NY to get a a basic paint analysis with XRF. This would be to determine if the oil paints are period correct and the palette matches those of a specific artist. That in of itself is not proof of anything except that the painting originated in a particular time frame.

 

You know the stretcher on the back has barely any age? The wood should have more age and it doesnt.

 

If the piece was recently relined then the stretcher would not be old...

 

The OP stated on the first page that the stretchers were 19th c with a different mitering. If they were from the 19th century shouldn't the wood show more age? The wood looks pretty new to me.

 

I have no problem with the reline but the painting does look a bit skinned, maybe you should not have removed the varnish as there could have been glaze components in the top coats?
Nevertheless, I wish you luck with your quest, it seems you have already gone a fair way down into the rabbit hole, so probably there's no stopping now ...however, in my experience, it is damn nigh impossible to get past the gatekeepers and have a work such as this admitted into the catalogue raisonné, even if it were the real thing. As you have already discovered, the big auction houses won't touch it with a bargepole if you try and sell it as a big name.

I have a friend, who, for the last 20 years has tried desperately to get a painting authenticated ...people tend to agree it could be real, given the proof etc but he cannot get "official" say-so's/nods of approval from the establishment.
In his case, it is an even more bitter pill to swallow because the painting in question was used as a frontispiece in a 1905 book about the work of the artist!

Unfortunately though, no one will cop to it. They are all afraid of losing their jobs/being discredited.

Welcome to the reality of the art world!!

 

Thanks Blooey. Yes the painting had been over cleaned in the past probably when it was re-lined. As far as old wood is concerned I have seen heavily oxidized darkened finish to barely any discoloration at all. It depends how well sealed the back of the painting was and I suspect this picture was well sealed. Remnants of the gummed brown paper can still be seen. I have cleaned a number of pictures and there is a way to do it - actually cleaning strategy depends on a lot of things. I used a mild cleaner and just rolled the cotton swab over the surface never scrapped. Took a long time but one has to be patient.

I have been down that rabbit hole before and actually am working on a clients painting right now. Have been involved with that painting for at least a couple of years. It can be both frustrating and interesting! One has to go down all avenues and when exhausted it is time to throw in the towel. Nice thing about the Renoir like picture is that I am under no pressure to get the answer since I own it.

 

For those interested, here is a scholarly article on stretchers and strainers. It is very good.

http://www.conservation-wiki.com/w/...trainers:_Materials_and_Equipment&redirect=no

 

Just out of interest Blooey, who is the artist of the work your friend has? If that info is private that is okay.

Mike.

 

Can't say, don't want to get involved (again)

 

If you want to take it to the Wildensteins, you certainly need to have your ducks in a row. The BBC program Fake or Fortune has had a couple of run-ins with them - once over an attributed Renoir, and again over an attributed Monet. Interesting viewing.

I think that this would be in the catalog raisonne if there was any sales history behind it.

Your only hope is finding an un-illustrated listing, and that's no hope at all. You would need a ton of subsequent collaborative evidence to tie this to such a listing.

To me, this work looks too thinly painted to be an original Renoir (you see too much of the canvas texture). You should be able to get an idea of whether or not that is valid simply by looking at others of his portraits.

 

Wildenstein is currently preparing a new Renoir catalog. Interesting thing is that Wildenstein and Bernheim do not get on at all. Don't know where the animosity started but they do not work too well together.

Yes you are very correct about having your ducks in a row. One needs provenance and without that it is definitely not even worth thinking about approaching them Apart from that one needs technical and scientific analysis and connoisseurs opinions. Anything less and it is not worth submitting to Wildenstein - just a waste of money. I know I am not likely to find anything on this picture but I will keep looking.

The thing is this, the picture is very much like Renoir's later period based on the background which was actually one of the drape backdrops he used. He did a few paintings using this yellow, red and predominantly green background. Using that one can date when this painting should be from (if he painted it). That date is from about 1910 or so onwards. Now during this period Renoir's style tended to be looser probably partly due to his arthritis and age. He was also churning out work as at this point he was in demand however I think quality suffered. My painting is a little too tight and tidy for this period.

Renoir did have a friend by the name of Abel Faivre who sometimes painted with Renoir and picked up some of his techniques. He also tried to teach Renoir how to ride a bike and Renoir fell off the bike braking his arm (I think it was his arm) but that is another story. Faivre's painting style looks similar to Renoir but not quite, however it could be by him.

Another option is that it is a homage painting but then why is it not signed? Maybe designed to deceive. The one thing I have found interesting is there appears to be an "R" in the rose and in the girls hair but one can sometimes read too much into a painting!