A branch of pears (i); A branch of quinces (ii)

Details

Pancrace Bessa (Paris 1772-1846 Ecouen)
A branch of pears (i); A branch of quinces (ii)
signed 'p. Bessa' (lower left) (i); signed 'P. Bessa' (lower right) (ii)
graphite and watercolor on vellum
19 ¾ x 14 7/8 in. (50.2 x 37.8 cm) (i); 19 7/8 x 15 in. (50.5 x 38.1 cm) (ii)
(2)

Lot Essay

A contemporary of Redouté, Bessa regularly exhibited watercolors of flowers at the Salons from 1806 to 1814. By 1816, he was appointed flower painter to the Duchesse de Berry, later becoming her drawing master. The writer-critic Charles Paul Landon praised the artist’s abilities, declaring 'so far as flower and fruit pieces are concerned there seems to be a strong competition between Redouté and Bessa, being both equally talented, hard-working and successful'.

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