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X. Infantry Bivouacking

Entered September 2021Accord Parfait

Whereabouts unknown

Materials unknown

49.5 x 61 cm.

 

PROVENANCE

London, collection of Charles Peregrine Heathcote-Drummond-Willoughby (1905-1965).

London (?), private collection.

London, sale, Christie’s, April 12, 1988, lot 11: “Follower of Jean Antoine Watteau / Infantry on the march; and Infantry bivouacking / 19½ x 24in (49.5 x 61 cm.) a pair (2) / PROVENANCE: Peregrine H. Drummond Willoughby / The compositions follow prints after Watteau / £ 6,000-8,000.”

 

REMARKS

Accord Parfait Bernard Baron

Charles Nicolas Cochin after Watteau, Détachement faisant alte, engraving, before 1729.

 

The Christie’s description of this and the pendant painting as following prints makes it seem as though it was a simple one-to-one transcription of engraved compositions to the canvas but, in fact, the paintings are pastiches. The principal figures in the right foreground of Infantry Bivouacking are based on Cochin’s engraving after Watteau’s Détachement faisant alte.

Watteau Drawing Four Studies of a Woman

Laurent Cars after Watteau, Escorte d’equipages, engraving, c. 1731.

 

On the other hand, the troops heading off into the distance and also the tents were derived from Cars’ engraving after Escorte d’equipages.

Reinforcing the idea that this painting was executed by a pasticheur, the pendant, Infantry on the March,
was similarly based on two engravings after Watteau.