| Abstrakt: |
The English Prime Minister Robert Walpole's (1672-1745) art collection was recently the object of an exhibition in London. The manner by which these paintings that came from France were acquired is not precisely known. However, in a sale catalogue edited by the merchant-draper Edme-François Gersaint, it can be learned that Joseph-Ferdinand Godefroid, a paintings' dealer of Nordic origin, established in Paris, contributed in the shaping of Walpole's painting cabinet. It is therefore quite possible that the old master paintings Walpole acquired from the diplomat Jean-Baptiste Fleuriau, Comte de Morville, were negotiated in Paris through the intermediary of Godefroid. The hypothesis is likely insofar as Jean-Baptiste Van Loo, portraitist of Walpole and friend of Godefroid, painted the pendant to Noel-Nicolas Coypel's "Enlèvement d'Europe"; which was the most important contemporary painting acquired by Morville. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
