A Difficult Move, c. 1770-1784
Nicolas-Bernard Lépiciéexpand_more
Pen and black ink, gray and brown wash, and watercolorexpand_more
A gift of many generous friends of Samuel Sachs II in honor of his service to the Minneapolis Institute of Artsexpand_more 85.60
Not on Viewexpand_more
Lépicié established his reputation as a history painter—the most prestigious category in the Académie Royale—but excelled in other subjects, too. His scenes of everyday life were admired in his day and are now his most celebrated works.
In A Difficult Move, three men occupy a cluttered, humble interior. The two card players are intent on their game. The one sitting on an upended cabinet is about to play a card, while his opponent assumes the classic pose of deep contemplation, chin on hand and eyes downcast. Their absorption draws us in, but we will never know the outcome.
Lépicié’s inspiration came from 17th-century Dutch and Flemish genre paintings and peasant and tavern scenes, which were enthusiastically collected in France in his day. Lépicié departed from those earlier works, however, in omitting any moralizing element. He also flooded this interior with bright light and employed a silvery palette, with touches of gray wash combined with purple, green, yellow, burgundy, and luminous orange watercolor.
Details
- Title
- A Difficult Move
- Artist Life
- 1735 - 1784
- Role
- Artist
- Accession Number
- 85.60
- Provenance
- Boin-Taburet Collection, Paris. David David-Weill, Neuilly-sur-Seine (by 1928-40; with Wildenstein, New York, 1937-40; sold to Kilvert); Mrs. Elsie Kilvert, New York (from 1940). Sale, Christie's, London, March 20, 1973, no. 123, as "Property of a Lady," for £1,300, to Dols. [Spencer A. Samuels Gallery, New York, until 1985; sold to MIA]
- Curator Approved
This record has been reviewed by our curatorial staff but may be incomplete. These records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@artsmia.org.
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