Painting Collection Georges Braque Still Life French, 1882-1963 21 3/8 x 25 3/4 inches On the reverse is Vanitas I, ca. 1930-31, signed by Braque.
At the time Vanitas I (1938) was acquired, the Kreegers were aware of a painting on the reverse side of the canvas, partially obscured by heavy white paint. The picture was sent to Bernard Rabin for restoration, and in the process of removing the white paint, Mr. Rabin discovered that there were three paintings on the back, one on top of the other. After much consultation and consideration, it was decided to have the most complete work restored, in this instance the second, or middle, painting. Restoration was completed in 1975. The new picture has been entitled Bouteille, Verre et Compotier, and belongs to the guèridon series done by Braque between 1928 and 1931. The characteristic knob of the table, or gueridon, is similar to the one depicted in the Still-Life on a Table (1928-29), the Guèridon with a Bottle of Rum (1928-30), the Still Life on a Table (1929), and the Blue Mandolin (1928-30). The earlier paintings in this series are vertical rather than horizontal or square, and show most of the guèridon. Since this canvas has not been cut down, the use of the horizontal shape, as well as the treatment of the subject, suggests that it was done toward the end of the series. Mr. Richard L. Feigen, N.Y., has dated it "circa 1931." - From the catalogue, The Collection of Mr. and Mrs. David Lloyd Kreeger, Editor Margy P. Sharpe, 1976. |
  
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