Quai au Sable, Chartèves 1904 Léon Augustin Lhermitte (French, 1844-1925) France, 20th century Pastel Framed: 94.3 x 124.2 x 8 cm (37 1/8 x 48 7/8 x 3 1/8 in.); Overall: 69 x 99 cm (27 3/16 x 39 in.) Bequest of Noah L. Butkin 1980.269 Catalogue raisonné: Le Pelley Fonteny 108 DESCRIPTION Lhermitte began making pastels in 1885, the year of the first exhibition of the Société des Pastellistes de France. He rapidly assumed an important position within the group, and his frequent contributions to their exhibitions were regularly praised. Pastels such as this one combine two different ways of handling the medium: a vigorous approach suitable for a sketch—as in the sky—and a precisely rendered style—as in the view of the autumnal trees and the village across the Marne River. His luminescent, atmospheric effects owe a debt to Impressionism. INSCRIPTION signed lower right: L. Lhermitte / 1904 PROVENANCE After 1904-by 1919 (Boussod, Valadon & Co., Paris) 1 ?-by 1976 Wallis 2 1976 (Sotheby Parke-Bernet, New York, May 14, 1976. no. 287, sold to Shepherd Gallery, New York) 1976 (Shepherd Gallery, New York, sold to Noah L. Butkin, Shaker Heights, OH) 1976-1980 Noah L. Butkin, Shaker Heights, OH, by bequest to the Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH 1980- The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH PROVENANCE FOOTNOTES 1 According to Le Pelley Fonteny catalogue raisonne. 2 According to Le Pelley Fonteny catalogue raisonne.