£2,500 - £3,000
A French School Oil on Canvas Depicting an Adjourned Court Scene, “Eagerly Awaiting the Outcome,” Signed Fortin.
A finely executed French School oil on canvas depicting a dramatic court adjournment scene, signed Fortin. The composition captures a moment of social contrast and tension upon the steps of a grand courthouse, guarded by a monumental lion sculpture above the entrance.
In the foreground, figures of modest means sit and stand along the stone staircase — a seated couple in sombre attire, a woman clutching a basket, and elderly figures in quiet anticipation. At the centre, a man embraces a young girl, creating an intimate focal point of emotional weight. Above them, elegantly dressed gentlemen and officials descend the steps, their formal attire and upright bearing contrasting sharply with the anxious expressions below.
The artist employs a muted, naturalistic palette with careful attention to gesture and narrative detail, emphasising the social divide and the atmosphere of expectation. The architectural setting, rendered with strong vertical lines and soft light, frames the human drama unfolding upon the stairs.
Approximately 51.5 x 39.5cm
Fees apply to the hammer price:
Room and Absentee Bids:
30% inc VAT*
Online and Autobids:
33.6% inc VAT*
