Lot 1693

Jean-Baptiste Forest (1635/36-1712), attributed to, 'Sous le péristyle d'un palais, une reine, assise sur son trône, accueille un enfant', pen ink and wash drawing, signed 'Forest - Italie', collector's stamp of Philippe, Marquis de Chennevières (1820-1889), 'Vente Villot et de Chennevières' written below the drawing on the passepartout -28 x 44 cm- Provenance: - Collection Marie-Joseph Frédéric Villot (1809-1875), curator of the Louvre from 1848-1861 - Collection Guichardot, probably F. Guichardot (18??-1875), an important dealer of rare prints and drawing in Paris - Collection Philippe, Marquis de Chennevières (1820-1889) - Sold at Drouot, Paris, 4 & 7 April 1900, part of lot number 186, listed in the catalogue 'Catalogue de Dessins Anciens de l'École Française Des Xvie, Xviie Et Xviiie Siècles Écoles Provinciales, Dessins, Aquarelles de la Collection de Feu M. Le Marquis de Chennevières' mentioning the provenance of Villot and Guichardot. The collection of three drawing was sold to 'Laturay' for 17 francs. Chennevières was a learned connoisseur and collected thousands of French drawings from 1500 to 1860. His friends included Charles Baudelaire, Theophile Gautier and the Goncourt brothers. He served in the arts administration of the Second Empire (1851-1870). He joined the Louvre in 1846, and later became its curator from 1852 to 1870, and was responsible for the Fine Arts exhibition at the 1855 Paris World's Fair. In 1873, Chennevières became the Director of the national École des Beaux-Arts (School of Fine Arts). Described in the exhibition catalogue 'La collection Chennevières: Quatre siècles de dessins rançais' by Louis-Antoine Prat, Musée du Louvre, 2007, page 432, entry 826. This catalogue accompanied the 2007 exhibition of Philippe, Marquis de Chennevières' collection. At the time of the exhibition, the location of this drawing was unknown.