Adolphe Étienne Piot, 1850 – 1910, zugeschrieben

DOUX REPOS (SWEET REST) Oil on canvas. 119.5 x 80 cm. In elegant gilt frame. The painting shows a sleeping brother and sister, offset slightly downwards in the center, depicted in complete relaxation on a red velvet armchair, their clean white clothes testifying to their innocence. Behind them is a young woman, probably their mother, who is looking towards the viewer and has raised an arm in an admonition of silence. Nevertheless, she looks mildly and kindly at the viewer. Piot studied painting under Léon Cogniet (1794-1880) in Paris and exhibited at the Paris Salon from 1850. He lived in New York from 1864 to 1869, but then moved back to Paris. Piot was already extremely successful during his lifetime as a portraitist of wealthy Parisians and is particularly well known for his portraits of young women. From 1870, Piot also exhibited genre portraits at the Salon, and the present painting is a particularly graceful fusion of the two subjects, showing sleeping children as a genre and the fine portrait of the young woman behind them. The strong contrast of alternating light and dark colors seems to support rather than break up the overall calm atmosphere. It is therefore hardly surprising that he became one of the most sought-after artists of his time. (14014813) (10) Provenance: The Cooling Galleries, London. Sotheby's New York, January 2012, lot 538. Adolphé Étienne Piot, 1850 - 1910, attributed DOUX REPOS (SWEET REST) Oil on canvas. 119.5 x 80 cm. Provenance: The Cooling Galleries, London. Sotheby's New York, January 2012, lot 538.