433 - Madeleine Lemaire,

Madeleine Lemaire, French 1845-1928- Still life with pink peonies in a basket; pencil and watercolour on paper, signed 'Madeleine Lemaire' (lower right), 34.6 x 50.6 cm. Provenance: Private Collection, UK. Note: Lemaire specialised in floral still lifes, particularly roses. She made her debut at the Paris Salon in 1864 and exhibited there throughout her career, receiving awards in 1877 and 1900. From 1879, she also exhibited with the Société des Aquarellistes. Lemaire was also a prolific illustrator, notably of Marcel Proust’s 'Les plaisirs et les jours' (1896) and 'Les fleurs à travers les âges' (1919). Proust described her as the artist who had created the most roses after God. The present work is typical of her rose still lifes. A similar work sold at Bonhams, London, 7 June 2005, lot 6 (£800 hammer). Lemaire enjoyed considerable success during her lifetime and became known as the ‘Empress of Roses’. She was made a Chevalier of the Légion d’honneur in 1906.