Raoul Dufy (French 1877-1953), "Raoul et Berthe dans L'Atelier (Raoul and Berthe in the Studio)", gouache on paper depicting two seated figures against large windows with a terrace in the background, pencil signed to lower right and stamped to verso 'M. Eugene Storck, Notaire, Saint-Avold (Moselle), framed. Note: a gouache depicting the same wall is included in the permanent collection of Centre Pompidou, the Musée National d'Art Moderne in Paris, France, as AM 2923 D (500), a gift of Mme Raoul Dufy in 1963. Like many artists, Dufy was known to paint and draw the same scenes in repetition. The piece on offer in this Lot shows the same wall as "Interieur aux Fenetres Ouvertes" with the addition of the artist and his wife depicted seated in chairs set before the fireplace. Reference: "Cheminee aus Deux Fenetres", no. 37 in "Raoul Dufy, Series et Series Noires", Didier Schulmann and Juliette Braillon for Fondation Gianadda, published 1997. The 1997 publication cites the work as circa 1940 whereas the listing on the Pompidou website dates the piece to 1953, the year of the artist's death.

Provenance: From the Private Collection of Jillian Diamond, Atlanta, Georgia; by descent.

Approximate dimensions: paper h. 19.625", w. 25.75"; frame h. 36.25", w. 41.5", d. 1.375".

Examined out of frame, mat burn, wear to deckled edges, craquelure and flaking on white pigment at upper center, creasing to corners, and no apparent foxing, holes, or tears. Frame has scattered surface wear including gilt loss.