2649 - Jean-Honoré Fragonard

Jean-Honoré Fragonard 1732 Grasse – 1806 Paris Laban Welcomes Jacob Graphite and charcoal on paper, slightly raised Indistinctly numbered on the reverse and inscribed in pencil: 96(?) Hellmann(?) Framed 14.5 × 21.5 cm (sheet size) Collection of Georges Huot, Fragonard’s great-grandson, France (according to a note by George Sidney Hellman (1878–1958), cited in Gutekunst & Klipstein); Gutekunst & Klipstein, Bern, November 29, 1947, Lot 3645 (attributed to Fragonard); Galerie Marguerite Schulthess, Basel, until 1949; private collection, Switzerland (gift from the gallery owner to the current owner) Jean-Honoré Fragonard, one of the most important French painters of the Rococo period, was trained by Jean-Baptiste-Siméon Chardin and François Boucher. In 1756, he won the Prix de Rome and subsequently spent time in Italy. After returning to Paris in 1761, he initially sought recognition from the Royal Academy as a history painter before captivating primarily private collectors with his landscapes as well as his gallant and intimate scenes. In addition to these well-known subjects, historical and biblical themes offered him the opportunity to capture human gestures and dramatic situations with his characteristic, spontaneous drawing style. This drawing illustrates the Old Testament story of “Jacob and Laban” (Genesis 29): After fleeing from his brother Esau, Jacob arrives in Haran, where he first meets Rachel, the daughter of his uncle Laban, at the well. When Laban learns of his nephew’s arrival, he hurries to meet him and welcome him. In the center, Jacob kneels, leaning on his staff, while Laban receives him with open arms. The greeting is framed by three men engaged in lively interaction, a large dog, and presumably Rachel, who is pointing toward the scene. The well in the foreground, the gate, and the implied city in the background situate the scene in the Haran region. The choice of subject draws on a tradition in the visual arts in which the encounter marks the beginning of a long-standing relationship characterized by both familial bonds and later deceptions. The dynamic grouping and the sketch-like execution lend the composition a narrative richness characteristic of Fragonard’s imaginative treatment of scenes teeming with figures. The documented provenance, which includes, among others, the collection of Georges Huot, a great-grandson of the artist, provides an interesting point of reference for further research on the work; the attribution remains subject to a thorough stylistic examination. The sheet is slightly browned with a faint light-colored border and small spots. The lower right corner has a missing section. Auction date: November 28, 2026 Approximate auction time: 9:25 a.m. CET