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No. 009 ‘Bounquinistes, Paris’
Artist: Unknown, circa 1950s
Medium: Oil on canvas Size: 100cm x 85cm framed
This painting depicts the famous Bounquinistes on the banks of the River Seine across from
Notre Dame in Paris. The Parisian second hand book trade has been thriving there since the
French Revolution when libraries were liberated from nobles and clergyman and wound up
being sold off cheap on the riverside. The large metal boxes of the Bouquineste have been a
feature of Paris for well over one hundred years.
From the clothing of the figures, particularly the man wearing a beret and long cape we
date the painting to a post- World War II but pre-1960 period. The photograph titled ‘Old
Book-seller on the Quai de la Tournelle’ (above) shows almost the exact scene, even down
to the position of the old man sitting patiently on his stool. It was taken by Pierre Petit (1886
– 1969) who published photographs of Paris from the 1920’s – 1950s (further confirming the
date) and is said to be the best-known unknown photographer in Paris.
The painting has slight damage to the canvas and was donated to FARA Homeware, Whitton.
PRICE: £185
CLICK TO ENQUIRE ABOUT THIS ITEM
12 farafineart.org
