Monday, September 5, 2016

FANTAISIE (LADY BULLOUGH ?) BY LOUIS GALLIAC



FANTAISIE

BY  LOUIS  GALLIAC
  
First hand research 
free from scurrilous and salacious innuendo.

Text and illustrations by George W. Randall.

This work by Louis Galliac titled “Woman

 taking coffee” is listed in the 1883 Paris Salon 

Catalogue of artists original drawings 

and titled “Fantaisie”.


In the year 1883 Monica Ducarel (Lady Bullough) 
celebrated her 14th birthday. 







The ornate, gilded framed portrait hangs
between the bedrooms of Sir George and
Lady Bullough on the first floor south corridor of Kinloch Castle. Signed by the artist in the lower left corner the oil on canvas measures
44 x 51 inches (108 x 124 cms.).

Louis Galliac was born at Dijon, France on 25 August 1849.
He was a prolific artist and today his works are much sought after.
He died in Paris in 1934.




The drawing above
is titled
‘Fantaisie’
by Louis Galliac.

 It was published in
the Catalogue illustré
de Peinture et Sculpture
Salon de 1897 
by the
Société Nationale
des Beaux-Arts
Exposition.
                    
Catalogue des Ouvrages Exposés au Palais des Champs-Élysées le 
20 Avril 1897

689 GALLIAC (L) H.C. rue Turgot 3 “FANTAISIE”

An illustrated catalogue of the original works by artists displayed at the Exposition des Beaux-Arts with an alphabetical list of their names followed by circa 380 black and white reproductions.

*

Paintings from the 
Salon and the Champ de Mars, Paris in 1895
were exhibited at the Jordan Art Gallery, Boston, Massachusetts,
 commencing December 1897
and included:

 Galliac (Louis)  123  Fantaisie (Woman taking coffee)



plus ten other works by Galliac.

Louis Galliac's “Fantaisie” 
was also listed in the 1883 Paris Salon Catalogue



In 1883 Lady Bullough would have been only fourteen years old.
Therefore the 1883 record of Galliac’s “Fantaisie” 
strongly suggests the undated but signed portrait at Kinloch Castle 
is based on Louis Galliac’s original,
 but is it supposed to represent Lady Bullough?

As the saying goes: "THAT IS THE QUESTION."

*
The annual Salon of French artists was first held in Paris in 1881.


                          As published in the Salon de 1897 Catalogue.         Also titled: Le Repos du modéle.

*




      






































































Assessed by a professional conservationist in March 1996 the oil on a fine close weave
 linen canvas was found to be in  “good condition overall.”
All four corners had “slight cockling.” 
Tension was “slack” which had resulted in “some planar deformations. Several areas of fine drying cracks” were noted particularly “in the flesh painting and shadows of the sitter's left calf.”
“One local area of unstable paint was noted, caused by finger pressure from the reverse when handling. Staining and streakiness is particularly noticeable 
on the right side in the purple drapery.”


The Report continues: “The varnish remains in generally good condition and has not significantly discoloured, but the surface dirt and staining contributes to a dull and patchy appearance.” All work recommended, which also included, adjustment of canvas tension, could be carried out on site.

           The frame has sustained damage particularly along the bottom edge.









































*
A 40 x 30 inch photogravure print in ochre by the French painter 
Louis Galliac (1849 – 1934)
of “a young naked woman sitting on her back”.
Galliac first exhibited at the Paris Salon in 1879 
his works receiving numerous awards over the years.

This print was published in 
The Exposition des Beaux arts -Salon de 1883” 
held in Paris.



POSTED BY GEORGE W. RANDALL RESEARCH AND PHOTOGRAPHIC ARCHIVE
 ART TREASURES OF KINLOCH CASTLE 

Originally posted on the  5th of  September 2016
Reviewed with Additional material +  23 January 2024.










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