Sale Of 18th Century Drawings By The Goncourt Brothers. Catalogue February 1897

Rare catalogue of one of the most exceptional sales of drawings that has ever taken place. The death of the last of the Goncourt brothers led to the dispersion of their collections, causing a significant number of sessions. No need to introduce the Goncourt brothers, who from their apartment on Rue Saint Georges in Paris made and unmade reputations. In a century that was moving too fast, they had the intuition to rediscover 18th century drawing, which had fallen into oblivion. This is the most important sale, the selection of the most beautiful 18th century drawings in the collection, which is the subject of a particularly luxurious catalogue. Three hundred and seventy-seven lots, bearing the greatest signatures, are carefully sold in three rooms and over three days. It is a social event that attracts museums and collectors from all over the world. A presentation text is by Philippe de Chènevières, curator of the Louvre. And also an immense collector. Thirty-six of the major works are reproduced in heliogravures, plus a portrait of the brothers as frontispieces. It should be noted that the catalogue cost forty francs, a very tidy sum (difficult to convert) and that at that blessed time, the sale costs were five percent. The catalogue, in folio, is protected by a contemporary but traditional vellum binding (re-finished as in the 19th century). A few stains on the paper, otherwise in good condition. One will read the exergue, a facsimile of the wishes of the last living person, the sale will contradict it, since some works, despite this dig, are in the Louvre.