P. S. Krøyer (b. Stavanger 1851, d. Skagen 1909)
“Arbejdere på et værtshus i Luchon”. Workers at a tavern in Luchon. A table with wine bottles and glasses. On one side of the table two men, one with a hat; on the other side, on the left, a man with his shirt sleeves rolled up. 1878. Unsigned. Oil on canvas. 47×61 cm.
H. Chr. Christensen, A Catalogue Raisonné of the Works of P.S. Krøyer, 1923, no. 186. Study for no. 187 in the catalogue raisonné.
Exhibited: Charlottenborg, “En Samling Malerier, Studier og Tegninger af maleren P. S. Krøyer”, 1905 no. 55. Kunstforeningen, “P. S. Krøyer 1851–1909”, 1910 no. 77.
In this painting by the 26-year-old Krøyer, we experience the virtuosity and fascination of the dark-toned interior, which the following year, in 1879, was expressed in the main works “Kunstnerfrokost i Cernay-la-Ville” (Artists' lunch in Cernay-la-Ville, Art Museums of Skagen, Inv. No. 1096) and “Et Sardineri i Concarneau” (A sardine curing and packing factory in Concarneau, National Gallery of Denmark, Inv. No. KMS3108).
Luchon is a small town in the Pyrenees close to the Spanish border. In January 1878, Krøyer left his teacher Léon Bonnat (1833–1922) in Paris to travel to Madrid together with Frants Henningsen (1850–1908), Frans Schwartz (1850–1917) and Julius Lange (1838–1896). This painting was created along the way and was in Krøyer's possession for the rest of his life. It became the basis for a slightly larger painting with the same motif (H. Chr. Christensen no. 187), which later came to belong to merchant Salomon Hertz (1830–1904) and wife Galathea Hertz (1837–1929).
Provenance: P.S. Krøyer's estate auction 1910 no. 62, acquired here by wholesaler Axel Levin for DKK 555. His auction Winkel & Magnussen 15, 1923 no. 26. Bruun Rasmussen auction 91, 1958 no. 155, ill. p. 55. Bruun Rasmussen Vejle auction 108, 2006 no. 23, ill. p. 15.
Please note: The item is subject to the Anti-Money Laundering Act. In the event of a hammer price of DKK 50,000 or more, including buyer’s premium, the buyer must submit a copy of a valid photo ID and proof of address in order to collect the item.
Northern Light – The Artists' Colony at Skagen, 10 June 2024