Beschreibung:

DescriptionPierre Alexandre WilleParis 1746 - 1821Tom Jones:  A scene from a French lyric comedy composed by François-André-Philidor, derived from the famous literary work of Henry Fielding
Pen and grey, brown and black ink and grey and brown wash;signed and dated in pen and ink, lower left: P.A. Wille inv. and del. 1767400 by 345 mmCondition reportLight scattered foxing throughout. Tip of upper left corner is missing. Faint horizontal crease running across the upper section of the sheet, above the heads of the figures. Media still relatively fresh. Sold unframed.
Please note that Condition 12 of the Conditions of Business for Buyers (Online Only) is not applicable to this lot.
The lot is sold in the condition it is in at the time of sale. The condition report is provided to assist you with assessing the condition of the lot and is for guidance only. Any reference to condition in the condition report for the lot does not amount to a full description of condition. The images of the lot form part of the condition report for the lot. Certain images of the lot provided online may not accurately reflect the actual condition of the lot. In particular, the online images may represent colors and shades which are different to the lot's actual color and shades. The condition report for the lot may make reference to particular imperfections of the lot but you should note that the lot may have other faults not expressly referred to in the condition report for the lot or shown in the online images of the lot. The condition report may not refer to all faults, restoration, alteration or adaptation. The condition report is a statement of opinion only. For that reason, the condition report is not an alternative to taking your own professional advice regarding the condition of the lot. NOTWITHSTANDING THIS ONLINE CONDITION REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE/BUSINESS APPLICABLE TO THE RESPECTIVE SALE.ProvenanceAndré Meyer (1884-1974);
sale, Paris, Pescheteau-Badin, Godeau et Leroy, Drouot Montaigne, 2 July 1998, lot 111;
sale, Paris, Kapandji Morhange, 2 December 2020, lot 10Catalogue noteThis animated group of figures represents a scene from Tom Jones, an opéra comique by the French composer François-André-Danican Philidor, loosely based on Henry Fielding's 1749 novel of the same name, which was first performed at the Comédie Italienne in Paris on 27 February 1765. This particular moment relates to Act I, Scene 3: Un Salon de Compagnie.
According to the diary kept by Wille's father, Pierre Alexandre saw the opera on 20 November 1766 and as the date inscribed on the present sheet indicates, executed this vibrant composition a year later.
The drawing was once owned by André Meyer (see Provenance), a French industrialist who had amassed by his death one of the finest collections ever assembled of prints, drawings and paintings relating to musical subjects.