Ending 22nd Mar, 2026 14:00
Olympia Timed: Paintings, Works on Paper and Sculpture. March 2026
409
FELIX BARRIAS (FRENCH 1822-1907)
MOTHER AND CHILD
signed and dated Felix.BARRIAS.’85 upper right
oil on canvas
116 x 75cm; 45 1/2 x 29 1/2in
138 x 98cm; 54 1/4 x 38 1/2in (framed)
Property from a Private Collection, Surrey
Provenance
Acquired prior to 1990
Barrias was known for his historical and religious paintings and murals, popular genres in the second half of the nineteenth century. Close stylistically to William Bouguereau (1825-1905), his academic training earned him commissions for church frescoes at Saint-Eustache in Paris, the Grand Hôtel du Louvre and the Chapel of Saint Geneviève in the church of Sainte-Trinité.
With other leading painters of the day, including Bouguereau, Gérome and Tissot, he was commissioned in the 1860s to contribute to an album of works on prayer compiled by William Thompson Walters, the influential art collector from Baltimore, USA. In 1868 Barrias was commissioned to paint The Legend of the Golden Fleece on the ceiling of Drapers' Hall in the City of London, returning in the 1880s to paint interior decorations for the Mercers' Hall, another livery company in the City. With the rebuilding of Paris according to Baron Haussman's visionary plan, new civic buildings needed decoration with mythological scenes glorifying the French nation. In such spirit Barrias was employed to paint murals to embellish the interiors of Charles Garnier's Paris Opera.
A small watercolour sketch of the present work dedicated by Barrias to Mme Violet le Duc recently appeared at auction in France.
Sold for £2,000
MOTHER AND CHILD
signed and dated Felix.BARRIAS.’85 upper right
oil on canvas
116 x 75cm; 45 1/2 x 29 1/2in
138 x 98cm; 54 1/4 x 38 1/2in (framed)
Property from a Private Collection, Surrey
Provenance
Acquired prior to 1990
Barrias was known for his historical and religious paintings and murals, popular genres in the second half of the nineteenth century. Close stylistically to William Bouguereau (1825-1905), his academic training earned him commissions for church frescoes at Saint-Eustache in Paris, the Grand Hôtel du Louvre and the Chapel of Saint Geneviève in the church of Sainte-Trinité.
With other leading painters of the day, including Bouguereau, Gérome and Tissot, he was commissioned in the 1860s to contribute to an album of works on prayer compiled by William Thompson Walters, the influential art collector from Baltimore, USA. In 1868 Barrias was commissioned to paint The Legend of the Golden Fleece on the ceiling of Drapers' Hall in the City of London, returning in the 1880s to paint interior decorations for the Mercers' Hall, another livery company in the City. With the rebuilding of Paris according to Baron Haussman's visionary plan, new civic buildings needed decoration with mythological scenes glorifying the French nation. In such spirit Barrias was employed to paint murals to embellish the interiors of Charles Garnier's Paris Opera.
A small watercolour sketch of the present work dedicated by Barrias to Mme Violet le Duc recently appeared at auction in France.
Auction: Olympia Timed: Paintings, Works on Paper and Sculpture. March 2026, ending 22nd Mar, 2026
MANY LOTS TO BE OFFERED WITHOUT RESERVE
Our biannual online auction of paintings, works on paper and sculpture offers a wide range of categories and works from the 17th century to the present day. Designed to appeal to all tastes, it comprises a vast array of subject matter with very attractive 'middle-market' estimates with many lots offered without reserve.
The current sale features a number of collections. These include a quantity of lively costume designs by Doris Zinkheisen and portraits of stars of screen and stage by Boris Smirnoff from the Vineyard Hotel, Stockcross in Berkshire (lots 572-590 & 623-642 respectively); a fascinating range of post-war Modernist paintings consigned by a collector in south London, and the first sixty-four lots in the sale (lots 401-465) from a private collection in Surrey which are especially strong in prints and watercolours of topographical and botanical interest.
Other works in the sale with fascinating stories attached include lot 479 of Leslie Howard by Antony Beauchamp, lots 568-570 by Madge Gill and lot 644, a very early 1937 celluloid of Doc, the head dwarf in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Disney’s first full length animated feature.
Contact the Pictures Department for further information | pictures@olympiaauctions.com | +44 (0)20 7806 5541
PLEASE NOTE:
The lots close 30 seconds apart from each other, but if there is another bid in the final 10 minutes of a particular lot closing, the time of this lot will be extended.
The office is closed over the weekend, but the pictures@olympiaauctions.com email is being monitored. Please contact us here if you have any queries.
PUBLIC EXHIBITION:
Sunday 15th March: 12pm to 4pm
Monday 16th March: 10am to 8pm (Drinks 6 to 8pm)
Tuesday 17th March: 10am to 5pm
VIEWING BY APPOINTMENT:
Wednesday 18th March: 10am - 5pm
Thursday 19th March: 10am - 5pm
Friday 20th March: 10am - 5pm
AUCTION:
Ends: From 2pm, 22th March, 2026
Viewing
PUBLIC EXHIBITION:
Sunday 15th March: 12pm to 4pm
Monday 16th March: 10am to 8pm (Drinks 6 to 8pm)
Tuesday 17th March: 10am to 5pm
VIEWING BY APPOINTMENT:
Wednesday 18th March: 10am - 5pm
Thursday 19th March: 10am - 5pm
Friday 20th March: 10am - 5pm
AUCTION:
Ends: From 2pm, 22th March, 2026
