Art News

Christie’s January sale "The Art of France" celebrates 18th century French paintings

NEW YORK, N.Y.- Following the sale of Old Master Paintings on January 25, 2012 at 2pm, Christie’s will hold a specialized sale, The Art of France, dedicated to 18th century French paintings including a rich selection of works by Jean-Honoré Fragonard, among others. That same afternoon, at 5pm, Christie’s will present a sale of Wines of France. Leading the sale is one of the most beautiful of Jean-Honoré Fragonard’s (Grasse 1732–1806 Paris) small-scale domestic scenes, The Good Mother (estimate: $5-7 million). This oval-shaped painting pairs its harmonious subject with a composition that envelops the happy family in the natural yet domesticated surroundings of a verdant park with banks of hollyhocks and summer flowers, sparkling Mediterranean light and an arching bower. Similar in