Bidspirit auction | A CHARLES GLEYRE (SWISS, 1806–1874)

A CHARLES GLEYRE (SWISS, 1806–1874) ”THE DEPARTURE OF THE POET,” CIRCA 1850S - A luminous and allegorical composition by the celebrated Swiss-born academic painter Charles Gleyre, this painting presents a dramatically poised scene in the gentle glow of twilight. On the left, a richly furnished classical galley carries a group of idealised figures, young women crowned with laurel, a central bardic figure in white, and a playful Cupid scattering blossoms over the water’s edge. On the right, a solitary bearded figure sits upon the shore contemplating a lyre and his staff: a quietly poetic counterpoint to the animated company in the vessel. The crescent moon low in the sky, the calm reflective waters, and the tranquil palette of soft blues, pink, and gold contribute to the painting’s mood of elegantly-tempered melancholy and poetic departure. Gleyre’s compositional clarity and mythic vision evoke the mid-Nineteenth-Century French academic tradition, as he championed both classical drawing and a subtle romantic sensibility. The motif of a departing boat of youth or inspiration sailing away is found elsewhere in Gleyre’s oeuvre (notably Les Illusions Perdues and Evening), and here is given a fresh, poetic variant. The technique canvas adhered to hardboard speaks to the artist’s studio practice of the period, while the frame remains wholly appropriate to a late-19th-century decorative milieu. Provenance: Private European collection. Please make all inquiries before bidding. All lots are sold ”as-is”, refer to our T&C. Helios Auctions offers in-house shipping. In case we can not accommodate a shipping request, a list of additional shippers will be provided. Please note that this lot is located in Europe and will be shipped to the winner from our European warehouse. Dimensions: 24 × 39 3/8 in., (61 × 100 cm.) Condition: The painting is well-preserved. The surface has fine craquelure consistent with age, minor scattered retouching, and overall good presentation in its period frame.