Vincent van Gogh

Tête de paysanne à la coiffe blanche by Vincent van Gogh

Circa 1884

Jean-Pierre Cassigneul b. 1935 French Le Fauteuil de rotin (The Rattan Armchair) Signed “CASSIGNEUL” (lower center) Signed, dated and titled “Cassigneul / 2010 / Le fauteuil de R...

Pierre-Auguste Renoir 1841-1919 French Femme au corsage blanc, Jeanne Samary (Woman in a white blouse, Jeanne Samary Initialed "AR" (lower right) Pastel on paper Among Renoir's most famous works are those that capture the ladies of his inner circle in his signature style. This vibrant pastel from 1879 depicts the young Jeanne Samary, Renoir’s favorite subject and most important muse at the height of his career. Compared to his 4,000 paintings, the artist made exceptionally few pastels—only about 150 total—making this luminous work an extraordinary Renoir rarity. Samary was one of the most captivating figures of late 19th-century Paris. An iconic actress at the Comédie-Française, her fame rivaled that of the great Sarah Bernhardt. Beginning in 1876, Renoir created dozens of portraits of Samary, and she also appeared in all three of the artist’s most important paintings from this pivotal period—Bal du moulin de la Galette (1876), La balançoire (1876) and The Luncheon of the Boating Party (1880–81). Renoir’s close friend and biographer, Georges Rivière, noted that “no portrait ever gave Renoir greater satisfaction than the ones he made of Samary.” This magnificent pastel perfectly embodies this bond between Renoir and Samary. Vivid and spontaneous, the work captures an intimate moment, with Samary’s blouse delicately falling over her shoulder. Renoir typically reserved pastel for his portraits of friends and family, as it allowed him to capture their true essence with speed and ease. The year this pastel was created, 1879, was also one of the most important years of Renoir’s career. He entered the prestigious Salon of 1879, where four of his portraits were accepted, including a full-length masterpiece of Jeanne Samary. This pastel stands as a testament to this pivotal chapter for Renoir, portraying the muse who shaped his groundbreaking vision. Renoir’s portraits of Jeanne Samary are exceptionally scarce, with most already held in prestigious museum collections, including the State Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg and the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. Similar pastels of Samary have commanded millions at auction—among some of the highest prices for Renoir’s works on paper. Importantly, the artist’s pastels are getting recent museum attention, with the major 2025-2026 exhibition organized by the Musée d’Orsay and the Morgan Library, Renoir Drawings...

Rembrandt van Rijn 1606-1669 Dutch Woman Bathing Her Feet in a Brook Etching on paper New Hollstein's 309, second state of II Signed and dated "Rembrandt f. 1658" (upper left) Created from observations of a live model, this work started as a figure study before evolving into a more imaginative setting. It remains ambiguous whether the scene is set indoors, as suggested by the cushion the figure is seated on, or outdoors, indicated by the foliage in the background. The omission of her feet, suggesting they may be dangling in a brook, adds a charming touch to Rembrandt’s imaginative scene. The figure seems unaware of the viewer, presenting a dignified yet sensual demeanor. The son of a miller, Rembrandt van Rijn is believed to have been born in Leiden on July 15, 1606. He studied first at the Latin School and then was enrolled at the University of Leiden at the age of 14. He soon left to study art—first with a local master, Jacob van Swanenburch, and then, in Amsterdam, with Pieter Lastman...

Louis Valtat 1869-1952 French Portrait of Pierre Renoir Signed "L. Valtat" (lower right) Oil on canvas This vibrant painting by Louis Valtat depicts the famed Renoir's eldest son...