Christ Washing the Feet of His Disciples
Nicolas Bertin·1720–30
Historical Context
Nicolas Bertin painted Christ Washing the Feet of His Disciples between 1720 and 1730, a subject emphasizing Christ's humility and service. Bertin was a French painter who trained under Jean Jouvenet and won the Prix de Rome, becoming a member of the Académie royale. His religious paintings combine the grand manner of the French Baroque with the lighter touch of the emerging Rococo, reflecting the transitional period in French art.
Technical Analysis
Bertin's oil on panel demonstrates the refined French technique combining academic figure drawing with warm, harmonious coloring. The intimate scale and careful composition reflect the tradition of French cabinet paintings treating religious subjects with both devotional seriousness and aesthetic refinement.
Provenance
Probably a private collection, Lyons [according to Catalogue historique… de M. de Lalive 1764]. Ange Laurent de Lalive de Jully, Paris, by 1757; sold Pierre Remy, Paris, May 7, 1770, no. 65, to Rémy, acting on behalf of the duc de Praslin, for 1,050 livres [according to annotated sale catalogue in Frick Art Reference Library, New York; see also Bailey 1988, p. xlvii]; probably César Gabriel de Choiseul, duc de Praslin (d. 1785), Paris, by descent to Louis César Renaud de Choiseul, vicomte de Choiseul (d. 1791); by descent to César Hippolyte de Choiseul, comte de Choiseul-Praslin; sold A. J. Paillet, Paris, February 18 and following, 1793, no. 152, to Clysorius for 800 livres [see annotated sale catalogue in the Frick Art Reference Library, New York and Lefrançois 1981, p. 114]. Abraham Fontanel, Montpellier [Lefrançois 1981, p. 114]; sold by Fontanel, 1806, to Baron Jacques Joseph de Boussairolles (d. 1814), Château de Mogère, Montpellier for 2,000 livres [according to Lefrançois 1981, p. 114, and Chevalier 1995, pp. 169–177]; by descent to his great-granddaughter, Marie-Claire Boussairolles (d. 1905), who married Charles-Antoine Barthélemy, baron de Saizieu; by descent to Louis-Antoine-Henri Barthélemy, baron de Saizieu; by decent to Joseph, comte de Colbert-Cannet; Chevagnes [according to information sheet provided by Jean Pierre Selz at time of purchase; see also Jeannine Redon, Les Boussairolles. Chronique d’une famille Montpelliéraine sous l’ancien régime et les deux empires, Montpellier 1988, p. 77]; purchased from Colbert-Cannet with Jean Pierre Selz as agent, 1979.
