Provenance
M. Gérard fils, Paris, by 1890
M Saumarcelli (and sold : hôtel Drouot Paris, 22 April 1895 lot 67)
M. Zygomalas, Marseille (and sold : Galerie Georges Petit, Paris, 7 May 1901, lot 28)
Charles Viguier (and sold : Galerie Georges Petit, Paris, 4 May 1906, lot 60)
M. Teutsch, Paris (and sold : hôtel Drouot, Paris, 29-30 June 1927, lot 34)
Gérard Frères (acquired at the above sale)
Private collection, South America, until 1999
Art Trade, Paris, until 2021
Galerie Devaille, Paris, 2021
Private collection California, 2021 (acquired from the above)
Exhibited
Paris, Galerie Bernheim Jeune, Exposition T. Ribot, 1890, no. 189
Paris, École des Beaux-arts, Ribot, May 1892
Catalogue note
In Théodule Ribot’s evocative painting, the old poacher kneels in a shadowy wooded corner, the chiaroscuro effect highlighting the tension between light and dark. His weathered face, marked by age and experience, is illuminated as he looks directly at the viewer, drawing us into his world. Dressed in a worn garment, his hands rest on the fruits of his hunt, while his rifle leans against his left arm, a silent testament to his skill.
The soft light catches the contours of his grizzled beard, and the deep lines etched into his rugged visage, revealing a mixture of determination and cunning in his sharp gaze. His felt hat, with its deformed brim, adds a touch of character to his appearance. To his left, his loyal dog stands alert, muzzle raised, its presence adding to the scene’s sense of anticipation and wildness. The interplay of light and shadow envelops them, creating a vivid portrait of a life lived on the fringes of society, steeped in both hardship and resilience.
In this striking portrayal, the old poacher stands as a beloved subject within the realist tradition, echoed by another painting by Ribot of a poacher included in the collection of Auguste Théodore, Baron de Girardot (1815-1883), which was later bequeathed to the Musée Girodet in Montargis (Catalogue des tableaux dessins, gravures, objets d’art et de curiosité appartenant au Musée de Montargis, peintres français, p. 11, no. 63).
This note was written by Elsa Dikkes.