Beschreibung:

Ford Madox Brown (1821-1893) THE HOLY FAMILY WITH JOHN THE BAPTIST, 1864 Signed with monogram u.r., (under slip), oil on canvas laid down on board 130 x 87cm Provenance: The collection of Henry Daniel Audesse (1922-2015). Henry Audesse’s, spectacular collection of European fine art and furnishings, including this painting by Ford Madox Brown was offered for sale by auctioneer John McInnes in 2016 in a multi-million dollar two-day sale, on the premises at the Audesse's magnificent, thirty-room Georgian-style mansion at Wenham on Boston's north shore, Massachusetts, USA. In a post-sale conversation with Nancy Audesse, Henry's wife, she told 'Antiques and The Arts Weekly' that the collection reflected her husband's tastes and, interests, and his French heritage. 'The collection was his - he made the selections. My job was to make everything look good in the house. We did most of the buying in New York, with two or three dealers who knew what we wanted, and we also, bought locally when there was something that Henry wanted'. Looking at the collection, it is clear that the French influence, style and connection was one of the greatest motivations in the acquisitions for the collection; the Russian items were, demonstrably French in flavour. Henry Audesse had made his fortune in the construction industry in the 1970s and 80s, when most of the collection was put together, although he continued collecting until late in life. It is likely that he was, attracted to the romantic style of French-born Ford Madox Brown as well as his French heritage. This work, which was very probably commissioned for a presbytery, would have displayed well in one of the many alcoves in his mansion, 'Seven Pines'.