Gaston La Touche (French, 1854-1913)

An Ancient Air

Details

Gaston La Touche (French, 1854-1913)
La Touche, G.
An Ancient Air
signed and dated 'Gaston Latouche S.C' (lower right)
oil on cradled panel
46 x 30 in. (116.9 x 78.1 cm.)

Provenance

Mme Alexandre Andre, Paris.
Seattle Art Museum.
Schweitzer Gallery, New York.
Acquired by Robert Isaacson from the above.

Literature

Peintres d'aujourd'hui, no. 9, Gaston La Touche (illustrated).
H. Frantz, Gaston La Touche, 1914, p. 20.
The Studio, Vol. XLIII, no. 182, May 1908, p. 268 (illustrated).

Exhibited

Paris, Galeries Georges Petit, 11-13 July, 1908, no. 196.
Paris, Socit Nationale des Beaux Arts, 1914, no. 688.

Sale room notice

Please note this lot is not exempt from sales tax as set forth in the Sales Tax Notice at the back of the catalogue.

Lot Essay

This fanciful picture depicts the figure of Pan who has invaded an elegant salon in which to play his flute. (The musical instrument is a souvenir of his chase of Syrinx who sought to evade Pan's clutches at the very moment he grasped her, transforming her into reeds). He could be piping an ancient air and yearning for days when mythical creatures such as Maenads and Satyrs roamed the earth and took part in orgiastic celebrations. The monkey symbolizing lust sits on the table next to Pan and holds the music for his master. Above the pair is a tondo painting very likely by Tiepolo that depicts Venus escaping the embrace of Time.

Roy Brindley and Selina Evans will include this painting in their forthcoming La Touche catalogue raisonn.

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