Autumn (Mery Laurent)
Painting on canvas • Édouard Manet (or high-quality contemporary follower/after)
Style & Movement
Impressionism / Realism
Medium & Technique
Oil on canvas, utilizing soft impasto and fluid brushwork characteristic of late 19th-century French painting
Creation Period
Circa 1882-1883
Dimensions & Format
Approximately 73 x 51 cm; Portrait orientation
Subject Description
A portrait of Mery Laurent, Manet's close friend and muse, depicted as an allegory of Autumn. She wears a stylish black fur-trimmed hat and coat, positioned against a gold Japanese silk screen adorned with white plum or cherry blossoms, reflecting the Japonisme trend of the era.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Good/Very Good; the surface appears stable with some minor age-related craquelure and possible yellowing of the varnish.
Estimated Market Value
$5,000 - $15,000 (as a high-quality period studio copy/after); up to $10M+ if authenticated as the original study
Auction Estimate
$4,000 - $12,000 (attributed as 'After Manet')
Provenance History
The original was commissioned as part of a series for Antonin Proust; this specific piece shows signs of private collection residency or high-end reproduction history.
Art Historical Significance
Representational of Manet's late-career interest in fashion, female portraiture, and the seasons. It stands as a prime example of the influence of Japanese art on French Impressionism.
Notable Features
The striking contrast between the silhouette of the black mourning-style dress and the luminous gold of the Japanese screen background is a signature Manet compositional device.
Condition Issues
Visible surface grime, minor cracking consistent with age, and a heavily gilded late-20th-century replacement frame that may put pressure on the canvas edges.
Conservation Recommendations
Surface cleaning, varnish assessment by a professional conservator, and ensuring a climate-controlled environment with UV-filtered lighting.