$18,960
Attributed to Victor de Grailly (French, 1804-1884) After William Henry Bartlett (British, 1809-1854) View From Bowanus Heights, Brooklyn. Unsigned. Oil on canvas, c. 1840, 21 1/2 x 29 in., in a period molded giltwood frame. Condition: Relined, minor retouch. Literature: See the exhibition catalog: Brooklyn Before the Bridge, The Brooklyn Museum, February 20-May 31, 1982., pp. 48-9. A painting owned by the Long Island Historical Society and painted by deGrailly was illustrated. It is nearly identical to the one offered here. The catalog description describes it as "one of a series of American views that the French artist copied after the engraved illustrations by William Henry Bartlett that appeared in American Scenery in 1840. It depicts the Delaplaine house in the right foreground...this house stood near what is now 40th Street and Second Avenue....Except for adding a tree at the left for a framing device, deGrailly has followed Bartlett's topography faithfully copying nearly every detail down to the placements of the boats on the bay..." A photocopy of this catalog entry with illustration is included with the painting. 3/4 in. semicircular area of retouch on the building with the tall tower at center, retouch to upper edge frame line, 1 1/2 in. line of retouch to l.l. corner.
Auctioneer:
Skinner
Date:
2008-02-17
