A great Le Barbier for Stockholm

30/11/23 - Acquisition - Stockholm, Nationalmuseum - A harmonious combination of large format and seductive composition, The Triumph of Flora painted around 1777 by Jean-Jacques François Le Barbier the Elder was bound to interest a museum, and it comes as no surprise that we can announce its purchase by the major Swedish museum, for the reasonable sum of €150,000 at the hammer, or €196,800 including costs. The painting (ill. 1) also had an enviable and well-documented history, as it was found in both the inventory and the catalogue of the post-death sale of Nicolas Beaujon (1718-1786), a very important Parisian financier and collector.

1. Jean-Jacques François Le Barbier (1738-1826)
The Triumph of Flora
Oil on canvas - 128.5 x 190 cm
Stockholm, Nationalmuseum
Photo: Artcurial

See the image in its page

Emblazoned with this prestigious provenance, the painting was a real eye-catcher when it was exhibited at Artcurial a fortnight ago (see news item of 18/11/23), although the next lot naturally seemed more attractive as it was Fragonard’s - fantastic - sketch making its first public appearance since the Jacques Doucet sale of 1912. The Triumph of Flora had remained in a private Belgian collection for several decades but does not appear to have been offered for sale since 25 April 1787 at the Hôtel d’Évreux. However, it was described on 14 March 1777 by Pierre-Louis de Livois in a letter to Jean-Jacques Lenoir, published by Guillaume Faroult in his rich reference article [1] on the important collector from Angers, who mentions his passion for the artist: "It is a celebration in honour of Flore, figures 8 to 9 inches in proportion, all sown with flowers and they have only produced thorns, transplanted to the Louvre. Be that as it may, Mr Barbier is an artist to be cherished and I intend to cultivate him". The goddess Flora (ill. 2) is enthroned on her chariot in the foreground of the composition, surrounded by figures irresistibly reminiscent…