Provenance

Private Collection c/o Mr. Stephane Cosman Connery

Sir Sean and Lady Connery
Sotheby's, New York

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We look slightly down onto a bay that curves away from us into the distance and to our right in this horizontal landscape painting. C-shaped, shallow waves lap at the sandy beach from our right. Several people standing and playing in the water wear hats and long-sleeved shirts. Two women there hold up their skirts as they wade in the ankle-deep water, a small brown dog close behind them. Another person wearing white walks on the wet sand, and four more gather a short distance away, to our left, perhaps on a blanket. Opposite us and far away, brown horses pull a carriage along the beach. The taupe-colored sand is hemmed in by a curving band of celery-green grasses, which in turn surround dunes or hills and a rocky formation. A tree-lined hill gives way to the rocky promontory that juts onto the beach where the shoreline curves to our right. The promontory has a crack near the bottom, resembling the open mouth of a turtle. Beyond this, touches of white paint suggest buildings deep in the distance, in front of slate-gray hills lining the horizon. In the top two-thirds of the picture, flat-bottomed, white clouds drift across a sky that deepens from nearly white along the horizon to pale blue across the top edge of the composition. The artist signed the painting in the lower left corner, with spiky, left-leaning letters in lavender purple: “W. Whittredge.”
Worthington Whittredge, Second Beach, Newport, c. 1878/1880, oil on canvas, Paul Mellon Fund and Gift of Juliana Terian in memory of Peter G. Terian, 2004.58.1

Second Beach, Newport

Worthington Whittredge · c. 1878/1880 · oil on canvas ·  Accession ID  2004.58.1

The image depicts a male figure in a seated position. The figure leans slightly to the left, with one leg extended outward and the other bent at the knee. His left arm reaches forward while the right arm is bent, holding an elongated object. The individual's facial features are not detailed, and the hair appears short or tied back. The person is dressed in a loose shirt and trousers. The background is plain, emphasizing the figure and clothing folds. No other objects or jewelry are visible.
Nicolas Lancret, Lady Seated on a See-Saw, red chalk on laid paper, Gift of the Christian Humann Foundation, 1996.128.24

Lady Seated on a See-Saw

Nicolas Lancret · · red chalk on laid paper ·  Accession ID  1996.128.24

The image shows a medieval landscape with a castle on a cliff in the distance. The drawing is in ink with detailed linework and hatching for texture. The color palette is monochromatic in brown and black. People are active in the foreground, and a pathway leads to the castle where figures are approaching. The sky is lightly sketched with some clouds and birds flying.
Israël Silvestre, Castle under Siege, pen and brown-black ink on laid paper, Gift of Benjamin and Lillian Hertzberg, 2004.140.27

Castle under Siege

Israël Silvestre · · pen and brown-black ink on laid paper ·  Accession ID  2004.140.27

The image shows a rustic scene depicted from a direct point of view. The horizon is subtly indicated by lighter tones of the sky, with trees and rugged terrain defining its line. The illustration uses expressive brushstrokes to create texture and depth. The color palette is monochromatic, primarily in sepia tones, giving the artwork a warm, vintage feel. A figure dressed in rustic attire is mid-stride, with a cow reclining and a horse standing with its back turned. A small animal, possibly a cat, is curled up to the right. Dark lines in the background suggest movement among the trees, adding depth and tension to the image.
Philippe Jacques de Loutherbourg II, Animals in a Stable, red chalk on laid paper, Gift of the Christian Humann Foundation, 1996.128.26

Animals in a Stable

Philippe Jacques de Loutherbourg II · · red chalk on laid paper ·  Accession ID  1996.128.26

This is a drawing of a scene showing two men. One man is on the right, carrying a large sphere on his shoulders. This man is muscular, with short, curly hair, a short beard, and a toga partially covering his body. On the left, the other man is seated on a stone bench, looking at the man holding the sphere. This man has shorter hair and a longer beard, and he appears slightly older and is nude. The background features rolling hills, distant mountains, and patches of vegetation. A wide river curves across the landscape below, and there are some buildings along the water. The lines appear brown against the beige paper, with some areas of dark gray shading.
Lucas Cranach the Elder, Hercules Relieving Atlas of the Globe, c. 1530, pen and black ink over brush and gray wash over chalk on laid paper, Patrons' Permanent Fund, 2006.111.2

Hercules Relieving Atlas of the Globe

Lucas Cranach the Elder · c. 1530 · pen and black ink over brush and gray wash over chalk on laid paper ·  Accession ID  2006.111.2

The image shows two full bodies of people and the partial body of a figure in the sky. The central female figure is standing with her arms clasped in front of her chest, gazing upwards. She has long, wavy hair cascading down her back and a serene expression. Beside her, there is a male figure kneeling on the ground, pulling at her drapery. Above them, an angelic figure with wings is positioned within the clouds, appearing to descend towards the pair. The background showcases detailed trees with twisted branches and lush foliage. The ground is adorned with various plants and there is a snake at the bottom right corner.
Jan Pietersz Saenredam, Jan Pietersz Saenredam, Expulsion from Eden, 1604, engraving on laid paper, Ailsa Mellon Bruce Fund, 1994.50.4

Expulsion from Eden

Jan Pietersz Saenredam, Jan Pietersz Saenredam · 1604 · engraving on laid paper ·  Accession ID  1994.50.4

The image shows a drawing of a person's upper torso, arm, and the beginning of their leg resting against a chair. The person's left arm is leaning on the chair's armrest. There are no detailed facial features or clothing shown in the drawing. A hand with relaxed fingers is visible, along with an indistinct object nearby. The chair has a woven texture pattern, possibly a caned chair. The background is plain with a simple line sketch style on blank paper. Text along the side of the image is present but does not impact the visual description of the scene.
Fernand Léger, Study for the Portrait "Maud Dale", 1935, graphite on wove paper, Ailsa Mellon Bruce Fund, 1996.115.1

Study for the Portrait "Maud Dale"

Fernand Léger · 1935 · graphite on wove paper ·  Accession ID  1996.115.1

The image depicts a drawing showing multiple full-body figures engaged in various activities. Central in the foreground, two figures, a man and a woman, appear to be interacting closely; the man is standing with one hand on his hip, wearing historical attire with breeches and a vest, while the woman beside him is in a dress with embellishments. To the left, three figures are seated around a table; an adult appears to be caring for a child, with the other adult figure draped in fabric. On the right, a group of figures is depicted ascending or descending a staircase, dressed in historical attire. The setting indicates an ornate interior space, possibly a grand hall, with large architectural features like columns and draped curtains adding depth and texture to the composition. The background is filled with architectural elements.
Luis Paret y Alcázar, Dance in a Palace, c. 1770/1775, pen and black ink with gray wash over graphite and squared in graphite on laid paper, Gift of the Christian Humann Foundation, 1996.128.31

Dance in a Palace

Luis Paret y Alcázar · c. 1770/1775 · pen and black ink with gray wash over graphite and squared in graphite on laid paper ·  Accession ID  1996.128.31

This sculpture depicts multiple people in a detailed scene. In the center, there are two people, one male and one female, both nude. They rest against the base of a tree with their hands together, holding an apple. The woman's long hair blows across her face, and the man looks up at her. To the left of the man is a dog, and below them are rocks, leaves, and shells. Above them, hanging from the top of the tree, is a child with the tail of a snake, holding another apple. The sculpture has a smooth texture and is an off-white color. It sits on a dark, round pedestal.
South German 17th Century, Austrian 17th Century, Adam and Eve, c. 1600/1650, ivory, Patrons' Permanent Fund, 2001.75.1

Adam and Eve

South German 17th Century, Austrian 17th Century · c. 1600/1650 · ivory ·  Accession ID  2001.75.1

This is a drawing of two nude figures standing beneath a fruit-bearing tree surrounded by elements of nature. The drawing depicts a scene in a lush outdoor setting, featuring intricately detailed branches and leaves of the large tree as well as an eagle-like bird perched nearby. In the background are additional trees extending into a forested area, and a winding path leading into the distance. The foreground includes various plants and the ground is littered with their leaves. The figures are positioned at the center, engaged in a gesture of pointing towards the fruit in the tree. The scene is rendered in fine details with attention to the texture and flow of the natural elements surrounding the figures.
Jan Pietersz Saenredam, Jan Pietersz Saenredam, Adam and Eve before the Tree of Knowledge, 1604, engraving on laid paper, Ailsa Mellon Bruce Fund, 1994.50.2

Adam and Eve before the Tree of Knowledge

Jan Pietersz Saenredam, Jan Pietersz Saenredam · 1604 · engraving on laid paper ·  Accession ID  1994.50.2