John Dugmore, Ledoyen Cafe in the Champs-Elysées, Early 19th Century, Ink Drawing

Description

An original early 19th-century pen & ink drawing, John Dugmore of Swaffham, Ledoyen Cafe in the Champs-Elysées, Paris.A fascinating and … more An original early 19th-century pen & ink drawing, John Dugmore of Swaffham, Ledoyen Cafe in the Champs-Elysées, Paris.A fascinating and rare ink drawing by British draughtsman and grand-tourist John Dugmore of Swaffham (1793–1871). The view shows 'A cafe in the Champs-Elysées' of the renowned Ledoyen family of 18th-century caterers. The cafe is named 'Ledoyen oncle Restaurateur', which is listed in the 1820 Almanach du commerce de Paris as a 'traiteur' (or caterer) in the Champs-Elysées. Today, the Ledoyen name is best known in association with the Pavillon Ledoyen in the Champs-Elysées, Paris's oldest surviving, now three-Michelin-starred, restaurant.This drawing records a time when the area around the Champs-Elysées was rural, with fields of grazing cows and scattered with country inns, serving fresh milk from the nearby cows. The inns flourished during the height of the French Revolution, and the nearby Au Dauphin inn near the Place Louis XV (current Place de la Concorde) was taken over in 1791 by Pierre-Michel Ledoyen (which would move to the Champs-Elysées in 1842 and become today's renowned Pavillon Ledoyen). Ledoyen's illustrious patrons included Louis de Saint-Just and Maximilien Robespierre, who dined there two days before their execution in 1794, along with Napoleon and Joséphine de Beauharnais, and writers and artists such as Danton, Marat, Degas, Monet, Zola, Flaubert and Guy de Maupassant.Much like the restaurant in this image, the original Ledoyen building is described as a small inn with white walls and green shutters.John Dugmore of Swaffham (1793–1871) was born into Norfolk nobility in 1793. He benefited from a deep classical education and developed a sophisticated taste in the arts. On moving to London to seek his fame and fortune at the Royal Court, he met the man who was to become his patron, William Charles Keppel (1772–1849), 4th Earl of Albermarle. It is believed that Dugmore was responsible for Keppel children’s education, and he accompanied one of Keppel's son's on a Grand Tour in 1820. Over a period of twenty months, he passed from Scotland to Western Bohemia, France, Switzerland and Italy, recording the sights and views he encountered. This drawing is very probably the product of that tour.Dugmore's work has been praised for not only being visual witnesses of the shape of many main and minor European cities, but also for his ability in feeling and amplifying the esthetic news which he was meeting place by place. It is thought that his drawing style varies according to the landscape, his German drawings being very linear and pure, and his French drawings are ‘touched’ by pencil and brush in a way that seems largely to anticipate the impressionist idea of the light.On wove paper laid down on brown backing paper.Provenance: William Drummond (Covent Garden Gallery, London).All artworks come with a Certificate of Authenticity and—if it is a collection artwork—its accompanying collection text or artist biography. Signed: No. Inscribed: Inscribed lower centre on backing paper. Bears William Drummond's dealer cataloguing number. Height: 16.4cm (6.5″) Width: 23.9cm (9.4″) Condition: In very good condition for its age. There are two small spots of foxing towards the lower edge of the paper. Please see photos for detail. Presented: Unframed. less