LOT DETAILS
Materials:
oil on canvas
Measurements:
38.86 in. (98.70 cm.) (height) by 53.31 in. (135.40 cm.) (width)
Markings:
signed and dated 'CLAVDIO · GELLEE... 1634' (AV linked, lower left)
Literature:
J. Young, Catalogue of the Pictures at Grosvenor House, London, 1821, no. 27. A. Jameson, Companion to the Most Celebrated Private Galleries of Art in London, London, 1844, p. 248, no. 24. G.F. Waagen, Treasures of Art in Great Britain, London, 1854, II, p. 171, no. 7. G. Courthion, Claude Gellée, Paris, 1932, illustrated, p. 171, no. 7, described as The Prosperity of the Roman Empire. Mme. Pattison, Claude Lorrain, sa vie et ses oeuvres, Paris, 1884, p. 235, no. 83 (incorrect size). W. Friedländer, Claude Lorrain, Munich, 1921, pp. 89 and 242ff, illustrated p. 87, as c. 1651 or a later copy (unseen by the author). P. Courthion, Claude Gellée, Paris, 1932, illustrated, p. 6. U. Christoffel, Poussin und Claude Lorrain, Munich, 1942, illustrated, p. 147. M. Roethlisberger, Claude Lorrain, Milan, 1975, p. 92, no. 66. M. Roethlisberger, Claude Lorrain, New York, 1979, I, p. 471, under no. 208, II, fig. 53. H. Diane Russell, Claude Lorrain, exhibition catalogue, Washington, 1982, p. 335, note 1.
Provenance:
Welbore Ellis Agar (1735-1805), Commissioner of Customs, by 1784, by whom bequeathed as part of his collection to his illegitimate sons,. Welbore Felix Agar and Emmanuel Felix Agar; Christie's, London, 3 May 1806 [=2nd day], lot 30, 'Un beau paysage. Sur le devant un grouppe de bergers qui dansent au tambour à l'abri du Soleil, à droit une vallée coupée d'une rivière. L'ensemble est d'une couleur vive et delicate, 3p. 2p. par p.4p. [sic] de large' (acquired before the sale, and before the English version of the catalogue was printed, en bloc with the whole Agar collection, by William Seguier on behalf of Grosvenor). Robert, 2nd Earl of Grosvenor and subsequently 1st Marquess of Westminster, K.G., P.C. (1767-1845), and by descent in the Westminster collection at Grosvenor House, London and Eaton Hall, Cheshire.