CHARLES LE BRUN. 1619-1690

15 THE CRUCIFIXION. 1637

Oil on panel. 52 X 41 cm. Inv. No 2770 Signed and dated right: С le Brun J637 One of the artist's earliest pictures, it was probably painted when he worked under S. Vouet at Fontaine-bleau. The picture was engraved in 1641 (in reverse) by J. Rousselet with a dedication to Chancellor Seguier, patron of the young Le Brun. It was also engraved by E. Skotnikov, Elisabeth Boucher (copy after Rousselet) and by an anonymous master (copy after Boucher, with altered details in the background). Other pictures on the same subject, representing variants very similar to the Pushkin Museum composition, are known from engravings by F. de Noilly Duflos and Boulanger.

Provenance: until 1930 The Hermitage, St Petersburg — Leningrad (acquired during the reign of Catherine II); since 1930 The Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts, Moscow Exhibition: 1963 Versailles, Cat. 1

Bibliography: Кат. ГМИИ 1948, p. 45; Кат. ГМИИ 1957, p. 173; Кат. ГМИИ 1961, p. 109; Cat. Ermi-tage 1774, No 20; Cat. Ermitage 1863, No 1454; H. Jouin, Charles Le Brun et les arts sous Louis XIV, Paris, s.a. [1889], p. 477; Сомов 1900, No 1454; P. Marcel, Charles Le Brun, Paris, s.a. [1909], p. 168; A. Blunt, "The Early Work of Charles Le Brun", The Burlington Magazine, 1944, July — August, p.166; D. Wildenstein, "Les CEuvres de Ch. Le Brun d'apres les gravures de son temps", Gazette des Beaux-Arts, 66, 1965, p. 13, No 70

15 THE CRUCIFIXION. 1637

16 PORTRAIT OF MOLIERE

Oil on canvas. 67 X 57 cm. Inv. No 3105 The portrait may be dated to the 1660s. Provenance: 1915 The K. Klachkova Collection, Moscow; since 1938 The Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts, Moscow (purchased from Grachova) Exhibitions: 1915 Moscow, Cat. 79; 1955 Moscow, Cat., p. 41; 1973 Paris, Cat. 250

Bibliography: Кат. ГМИИ 1948, p. 45; Кат. ГМИИ 1957, p. 79; Кат. ГМИИ 1961, p. 108; Прокофьев 1962, ill. 34

16 PORTRAIT OF MOLIERE