48. Supply chariots [cca. 1880]

The photos of the lot are informative and indicative, and cannot provide a highly detailed view of the object from all angles. We recommend a careful physical inspection of the lot before bidding.

Brought to you by

Roxana Scripcaru

Head of the Romanian Postmodern & Contemporary Art Evaluation Office

0736 381 153 [email protected]

48. Supply chariots [cca. 1880]

Nicolae Grigorescu

1838, Pitaru, Dâmboviţa - 1907, Câmpina

Estimate:

EUR 20.000 - 35.000

Sold

EUR 23.000

References

Oprescu, George, N. Grigorescu, Vol. II, Ed. Meridiane, București, 1962
Oprescu, George, Nicolae Grigorescu, Ed. Meridiane, București, 1963
Anghel, Costina; Vida, Mariana, Repertoriul picturii românești modern: secolul al XIX-lea, Vol. II, Ed. Muzeul Național de Artă al României, București, 2015

oil on wood, 14 x 23.5 cm, 23,5x14, signed in the lower right corner, in red, "Grigorescu"; numbered and dated on the back, by pencil, "Gr. Ghyka, 12 Iulie 1939"

Research information

The work was included in the list of inventory and catalogue and shown in the Remus Niculescu archive, the monographer of the painter for over 50 years.

In 1877, after an en plein air period spent in Barbizon and drawing travels to Vienna, Rome, Constantinople or Vitré, supplemented by returns to his beloved homeland, the painter Grigorescu was preparing for one of the moments that would become his parable and living experience, the war for independence. He would participate in the war campaign not only as a painter-reporter, but more than that, as a Romanian artist, proving his faith in his origin and the young Romanian army. While being accompanied by a chart pulled by three small horses, where he would place the necessary items for eating, sleeping and painting, the painter would travel his birthplace roads and realms every day, where the infantry, cavalry, guns, trenches, war horses or prisoners of war would roam instead of the tender grass and sheep led by shepherds. Plevna, Corabia, Turnu Magurele, Nicopole, Valea Rahovei or Smardan would be the places that the painter would travel as witness of the war, next to the old Szathmári, Sava Hentia and George Demetrescu Mirea, while facing the real danger of each day and remembering in his sketches and the later oil painting pages of a history he had lived. Images directly caught would present portraits of officers, colonels, soldiers, and sometimes self-portraits, war horses, guns, prisoner convoys, camps, tents or pontoons. However, other times he would pay attention to the nature, to the locals and to the ox charts carrying war supplies on the difficult winter roads. Small in size and with little detail, his work titled “Ox carts” shows the loyalty of a sensitive craftsmanship displayed by the painter in the setting of tough times, where courage and boldness were the assets supporting the Romanian victory. The picturesque image, this time solemn, shows a steadfast past, which Grigorescu the painter has depicted in an honest moving manner. (G.M.)

For clarifications regarding the bidding procedure, hammer price costs, guarantee, payment, and collection terms for the winning lot, we recommend carefully reading/re-reading the Bidding Regulations.

For additional information regarding the lot and the auction, please contact the Art Consultants Department.