Armand Berton

Self-portrait in pencil

1885

Black chalk and graphite on light weight cream wove paper, 16 1/8 x 11 1/4 inches, (410 x 286 mm), the full sheet. Signed, titled, and dated in sepia ink in the lower-center sheet area. With horizontal folds approximately 1-inch from the sheet edge at each of the four sheets. The drawing appears to have been folded at the sheet edges to fit into a frame. Finn mac Cumail (or mac Umaill), often anglicized Finn McCool or MacCool, is a hero in Irish mythology, as well as in later Scottish and Manx folklore. He is the leader of the Fianna bands of young roving hunter-warriors, as well as being a seer and poet. He is said to have a magic thumb that bestows him with great wisdom. He is often depicted hunting with his hounds Bran and Sceólang, and fighting with his spear and sword. Fionn MacCumhail was transformed into the character "Fingal" in James Macpherson's poem cycle Ossian (1760), which Macpherson claimed was translated out of discovered Ossianic poetry written in the Scottish Gaelic language. Fionn MacCumhail features heavily in modern Irish literature. Most notably he makes several appearances in James Joyce's Finnegans Wake...

Untitled, 1894 Graphite on paper Sight: 13 1/2 x 17 in. Framed: 20 x 24 x 1 in. Signed and dated lower right, inscribed lower left

Watercolor on paper without frame

An exceptional ink, wash and graphite portrait of a gentleman by Henri-Joseph Hesse, dating from circa 1820, the time of the Bourbon restoration in France. It depicts a dashing figur...

Rene Genis (French 1922-2004) “Guy au portrait de madame Descazeaux” / Guy (Bardone) in the portrait of Madame Descazeaux. Ink on paper laid down on matt board. Unsigned. Image siz...

Charcoal, chalk and red chalk Initialled (lower left and right) 12cm × 9.5cm (41cm × 37cm framed) A French actor and artist. He is known for acting in several French films in the 1...

Limerick: Henry O'Shea, c1800. Dual process photogravure on cardstock, 4 x 2 1/2 inches (102 x 64 mm), the full sheet. Framed handsomely in the original handmade wood frame with a ...

Pen and ink with wash on watermarked J Whatman 1814 paper, 11 x 8 1/4 (280 x 210 mm). Scattered minor edge losses at the left sheet edge, well outside of image area. Minor handling w...

In this charming scene a maid appears bashful as she is introduced by her mother to the shepherd’s son. Ink and wash on hand made, cool-toned cream laid paper, 6 3/4 x 8 7/8 inches...

Red crayon on brown light-wove paper, 6 3/4 x 4 3/4 inches (172 x 121 mm). Light toning and extremely minor, small losses at the very extreme top right and left corners (1/8-inch).