Jean-François MILLET (1814-1875) Lot n° 4

PAYSAN A LA CHARRETTE ATTELÉE,1836 Pencil lead on paper Signed and dated "F.Millet 1836" lower left Label on the back relating the provenance 14 x 22 cm (at sight) - 5.5 x 8.7 in. (on sight) Signed and dated "F.Millet 1836" on the lower left, pencil on paper Provenance - Offered by the artist in 1836 to Madame Victor Liais. - Collection of Monsieur et Madame Liais, Cherbourg - Collection of Madame Lefranc (née Liais) (by descent) - Private collection, Paris This work depicts a rural composition, Millet's favourite subject, and draws all its inspiration from "Paysage avec figures" by Hippolyte Lecomte, kept in the Cherbourg museum. The work belonged to the donation made by the art dealer Thomas Henry, who was behind the opening of the museum. The register of copies kept by the caretaker at the time indicates that Millet copied several works from this donation between 1835 and 1836 on the advice of his master Théophile Langlois de Chèvreville. We would like to thank Madame Louise Hallet, director of the Cherbourg-en-Cotentin Museum, for her help in writing this sheet. Hippolyte Lecomte, Landscape with figures, oil on canvas, Cherbourg Museum