View full screen - View 1 of Lot 742. Architectural capriccio with classical buildings and a ruined colonnade with figures.

Collection of Baron and Baronne Bertrand de Giey

Jean-Henry-Alexandre Pernet

Architectural capriccio with classical buildings and a ruined colonnade with figures

Estimate

4,000 - 6,000 GBP

Lot Details

Description

Collection of Baron and Baronne Bertrand de Giey


Jean-Henry-Alexandre Pernet

Paris circa 1763–after 1789

Architectural capriccio with classical buildings and a ruined colonnade with figures


signed in pen and grey ink lower right: Pernet;

bears date, inscription and numbering in brown ink, verso: 1782, Dabasse and 372 (twice)

pen and grey ink and watercolour;

422 by 607 mm

Probably Charles Hippolyte, Vicomte Vilain XIIII (1796-1873),

His son Adrien Stanislas Paul Ghislain, Vicomte Vilain XIIII (1861-1940),

His daughter Marie-Thérèse Ernestine Alphonsine Vilain XIIII (1894-1950),

Thence by descent to the present owners

This characteristic drawing by Pernet has been owned since the late 18th or early 19th century by the Vilain XIIII family, the only known example of a family whose name incorporates Roman numerals. This unusual name is recorded from the beginning of the 17th century, but probably originated even earlier. The collection was chiefly formed by Charles (known as 'Hippolyte') Vilan XIIII (1796-1873), largely in Italy between 1830 and 1840, when the Vicomte represented the Belgian crown at Turin, Parma, Lucca and at the court of the King of Naples. The collection was not, though, solely devoted to Italian art, including works from all European schools, acquired both at home and abroad. 83 drawings from the Vilain XIIII collection were sold at Sotheby's in London, on 11 June 1981, but the present drawing has passed directly from the historic Vilain XIIII collection to the present owners.