Jean-Pierre Norblin De La Gourdaine

Jean-Pierre Norblin de la Gourdaine (Misy-Fault-Yonne 1745-1830 Paris) The Polish Rider, after Rembrandt signed and dated 'NB [in monogram] 1803' and inscribed 'Litowszik Cavalerie kosaque dont Wladislas IV avait envoyé douze milles [...] Maximillien Dessiné par Norblin d'aprés un Tableau de Rembrandt qui etait a Stanislas roy de Pologne' (along the lower edge) pencil, brown, pink and ochre wash 19 x 15¾ in. (48 x 40 cm.) PROPERTY FORMERLY IN THE COLLECTION OF PRINCE PONIATOWSKI (LOTS 11, 68, 88 AND 92) Norblin executed this copy after Rembrandt's celebrated picture, now at the Frick Collection, New York, while the painting was in Warsaw in the Polish Royal Collection. It had been purchased by King Stanislas II in 1793. Norblin, who stayed in Poland between 1774 and 1804, was a great admirer of Rembrandt's and he produced many etchings inspired by the great Dutch artist. However in the present work, and as the inscription along the lower edge suggests, he seems to be more interested in the subject of the painting which was at the time supposed to represent a Cossack at the service of King Wladislaw IV of Poland (1595-1648).

Jean-Pierre Norblin de la Gourdaine (1745-1830) Self-Portrait as an Etcher etching, circa 1780, on tissue thin wove paper, a very good impression with very little wear, with 5-8 mm. margins, some pale foxing mainly visible in the margins, generally in very good condition; with Self-Portrait as a Painter by the same hand, etching, 1778, on thin Japon (?), with narrow to thread margins, trimmed on the platemark at lower right, some pale scattered foxing, a 6 mm. tear at the upper left sheet edge, otherwise in good condition; both tipped onto one album sheet at the corners P. 137 x 148 mm., S. 150 x 163 mm. P. 156 x 106 mm., S. 160 x 107 mm. (2) Pre-Lot Text VARIOUS PROPERTIES

measurements 17 1/4 by 27 in. 44 by 68.6 cm. description material/medium pen and black ink and watercolor on paper laid down on board provenance georges s. lasquin, paris sale: paris, dessins, gouaches, pastels du xve au xixe siecle, june 7-8, 1928, lot 171, there purchased by m. de barre, paris published condition note the sheet is laid down on board; the pigment is slightly rubbed on the large tree at center of composition; there are small and medium-sized spots of fox throughout; mat stain around the edges; slight surface dirt. this lot is sold subject to sotheby's conditions of sale. as stated in the conditions, all lots are sold on an "as is" basis. prospective bidders should review the conditions and buying at auction guide.