François Joseph NAVEZ - Lot 59

François Joseph NAVEZ (Charleroi 1787 - Brussels 1869) Young woman with sleeping child in her arms Canvas Size: 58 x 47 cm "The theme of a woman holding a sick or sleeping child has been depicted many times by Navez. He used it most frequently in his paintings of Italian subjects. This is not the case, however, with this "Jeune femme de profil avec un enfant endormi dans les bras" (Young woman in profile with a sleeping child in her arms), which should be added to his catalog (ill.27). This time, the painter has not sought to introduce any exotic or picturesque note: it is simply a young mother, no doubt from Brussels, whom he has portrayed in profile, with great veracity, her gaze turned slightly upwards. We can clearly recognize his very characteristic way of precisely outlining the features of his model, who stands out against the background. As for the modeling, it is meticulous and delicate. The brushwork in this painting is frank and free. It is delicate when it comes to rendering the softness of the skin, the sparkle of the eyes or the tenderness of the lips, and virtuoso when it comes to rendering the mixed colors of the shawl or the background quickly brushed with luminous gray tones, which allude to the light brush technique learned from his master David". Denis Coekelberghs, La Tribune de l'Art, Friday February 29, 2008.