Featured Jean Dufy Watercolor

Hello — Can anyone offer insight into this Jean Dufy watercolor?

It is 16.5x20.5”, signed, 1920...

TY!

 

You know... I usually automatically say "reproduction" when I see works like this posted but...

This Dufy (c. 1955) auctioned at Christie's also had provenance from the same Philadelphia gallery.

https://www.christies.com/lotfinder...-la-passerelle-des-arts-5766603-details.aspx#

You may have gotten lucky with this one.

Debora

 

Are you hoping it is the French artist Jean Dufy? I don't believe it is by him. Also, this is signed Dufy Jean.

https://www.google.com/search?tbm=i...&ved=0ahUKEwis1ajJw5nrAhUKK80KHe4hAsEQ4dUDCAc

 

Here's some signatures for comparison.

https://www.artsignaturedictionary.com/artist/jean.dufy

Debora

 

Here's another Dufy provenance of the same gallery.

http://www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/ecatalogue/2014/impressionist-modern-art-n09122/lot.41.html

Debora

 

Why would he sign it Dufy Jean?

 

This site is for the Dufy catalogue raisonné. I recommend you contact them.

https://www.jeandufy.com

Debora

 

Or one could ask... Why would a counterfeiter sign Dufy Jean? The keeper of the catalogue raisonné will know if the artist ever signed his name in that order.

Debora

 

Ah.... The Georges de Braux Gallery of Philadelphia represented Dufy. So it's an elaborate fake... or its not. The artist was born in 1888 so this would be an early work.

Debora

 

Dufy was painting in the la Val-d'Ajol in 1920 so subject is right.

Debora

 

Isn't this wonderful? Looks like a (recent) photograph of the same scene.

Debora

 

Thank you both...
I have emailed the keeper of the catalogue and will post what I find!!

FWIW, my mom looked after a cantankerous family friend, who had been an interior designer in her heyday, in Philadelphia. She gave the painting to my mom when she moved into a care home, 40+ years ago. We shall see if it comes to anything!

 

Well, then. Do keep in mind when comparing to the works in the auctions I posted... yours is a much less elaborate work and one done much earlier in the artist's career. (If genuine,) unlikely it would realize the $15,000 and $20,000 of the other two.

Debora

 

That’s ok — just interesting!
I like it no matter what it is

 

Great stuff, Debora. Well done you!

 

Just brightened up original posting a bit.....is it actually THAT dark????

 

But also, the label on the back DOES say it in the normal order, i.e., Jean Dufy, 1920!!

 

I think it is a lovely painting, and to me it looks like it could be the real deal. Introducing oneself or signing with the surname first is an old custom in many parts of Europe. That could be the reason why an older painting by Jean Dufy would be signed like this. I am sure the people on the site Debora posted will be able to tell you if this was the case.
Hope you will get good news soon.

 

Genuine, but severely toned. That will affect the value, watercolours do have to look bright to be desirable. One thing is for sure though, it will bring more than two rupees in Assam!

 

Following Debora’s lead, I reached out to the Jean Dufy estate authenticator. He charges $1,400 for the service. That seems possibly steep vs. value of the work...

Here’s a better photo of it, in the sunlight... it has lovely color and is, I think, not too dark...