Lot 84: ANTOINE JEAN, BARON GROS | David playing harp for king Saul or David charming Saul's melancholy

oil on canvas ; signed lower left Gros ; bears Louis-Philippe's stamp crowned LPO on the reverse, both on the relined canvas and on the stretcher ; bears an inscription on the reverse David est introduit près de Saül par Michol pour dissiper par l'harmonie de sa harpe la noire mélancolie dont ce roi était tourmenté. Peint par Gros en 1822.

184 x 227 cm ; 72 1/2  x 89 3/8  in.

- relined - horizontal seam on the relined canvas - craquelures on the surface - matter thin in some areas - numerous repaints on the four borders - thin restored tear above Saul's right shoulder - a few small restorations scattered on the surface, especially : - on Michol's foot and on the bottom of her drapery - on the ribbon in Saul's hair, his right sleeve and on the red drapery Good overall condition.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Paris, Salon, 1822, n°615

C.-P. Landon, Les Annales du musée, Paris, 1822, p. 49 ;
Galerie lithographiée des tableaux de S.A.R. Monsieur le duc d'Orléans, Paris, 1824 ;
Indicateur de la galerie de tableaux de S.A.R. Monseigneur le duc d'Orléans au Palais Royal, Paris, 1824, n°41 ;
A. Duchesne, Musée de peinture et de sculpture ou recueil de principaux tableaux, statues et bas-reliefs des collections publiques et particulières de l'Europe dessinés et gravés à l'eau forte par Réveil, avec des notices descriptives, critiques et historiques, Paris, 1828-1834, vol. 5, p. 299 ;
J.B. Delestre, Gros, sa vie et ses ouvrages, Paris, 1867, pp. 233-235, 676, 682 ;
J. Tripier-Lefranc, Histoire de la vie et de la mort du Baron Gros, le grand peintre, Paris, 1880, pp. 366-368 ;
H. Lemonnier, Gros, Paris, 1928, p. 13, illustrated

Commissioned by Louis-Philippe d'Orléans to the artist ;
His posthumous sale, Paris, 28 April 1851, lot 55 ;
Sale, New York, 19 May 1993, lot 35 ;
Galerie Alain Tarica, Paris ;
Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé, purchased at the above in 1995