Réne-François-Xavier Prinet (French 1861-1946)

The celebrated Australian painter, Bessie Ellen Davidson (1879-1965) was best known for her landscapes, portraits of friends, intimate interiors and still lifes. A highlight of the auction is this work by her mentor and friend, René-François-Xavier Prinet, which offers a window into Davidson's artistic world in Paris.

This impressive interior was painted in Paris around 1917, at the height of the First World War. It depicts Davidson at the heart of a gathering of the Montparnasse artistic circle. The figures include Robert Cornille, a recovering French army officer; Davidson herself; Jeanne Prinet; the painter Félix Desgranges and his wife; and their daughter Germaine Besnard at the piano. The composition is both a celebration of friendship and a poignant reflection of the emotional gravity of wartime.

Bessie Davidson was a fascinating character. After studying in Adelaide at the Advanced School for Girls under Rose McPherson (otherwise known as Margaret Preston), Davidson attended the Künstlerinnen-Verein in Munich before moving to Paris. She trained at the Académie de la Grande Chaumière under Prinet and it was here she met Germaine Desgranges, who was to become a lifelong friend. In Paris, Davidson embraced impressionism and post-impressionism; the tonal restraint characteristic of her earlier works was increasingly replaced by vibrant and luminous application of colour.

Shortly after arriving in France, Davidson began exhibiting at major institutions. In 1922, she became the first Australian woman elected to the Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts, eventually serving as its secretary. She was a founding member of the Salon des Tuileries, exhibiting regularly between 1923 and 1951, and a founding vice-president of La Société Femmes Artistes Modernes. Davidson also contributed to the Société Nationale Indépendantes and the Salon d'Automne. In recognition of her achievements, she was awarded the Chevalier de la Légion d'Honneur in 1931, the first Australian woman to receive this distinction.

During World War II, following the death of her partner of two decades, Marguerite Leroy, Davidson lived in Grenoble and was rumoured to be involved in the French Resistance. From 1945 onward, she returned to her studio in Paris.

Circle of Horace Vernet (French 1789-1863)

We also have this exquisite Portrait of a Moor wearing a turban. Although the artist remains unidentified, the painting is of evident quality and bears a strong resemblance to the work of Horace Vernet, suggesting an artist within his circle. The influence is evident, as it shows similarities to Portrait of an Arab, a work painted in 1837 during Vernet's travels with the French army in Algeria.

Dressed in a coloured turban and cloaked in a traditional North African garment - probably a burnous worn over a richly embroidered red tunic - the figure depicted, of African origin, raises his eyes towards the sky with an expression of dignity and pride. The sitter's noble bearing, together with the contrast between the luminous drapery and the depth of the dark tones, lends the portrait an aristocratic presence. This upward gaze gives the work a romantic and contemplative dimension. In the background, a sunset with yellow, orange and red tones tinges the blue sky, echoing the warm colours of the turban and reinforcing the harmony of the composition.

The quality of the work is further enhanced by the preservation of the canvas, which is unlined and retains its original stretcher. The painting is offered in a fine giltwood frame of the period.

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Auction Details

Wednesday 10 June, 10.30am BST
Donnington Priory, Newbury, Berkshire RG14 2JE

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Viewing Information:

Viewing at Dreweatts London (highlights): 16-17 Pall Mall, SW1Y 5LU

• Monday 1 June: 10am-4pm
• Tuesday 2 June: 10am-4pm
• Wednesday 3 June 10am-7pm

Viewing at Dreweatts Newbury (full sale): Donnington Priory, Newbury RG14 2JE:

• Saturday 6 June: 10am-3pm
• Sunday 7 June: 10am-3pm
• Monday 8 June: 10am-4pm
• Tuesday 9 June: 10am-4pm

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