Théodore Jacques Ralli (Greek, 1852-1909) Soubrette arrosant des fleurs signed and dated 'T.Ralli/1876' (lower left); inscribed with the artist's address on the stretcher oil on canvas 55.5 x 46.5 cm. Footnotes: Provenance Estate of the artist and by descent to the present owner. Exhibited Paris, Palais des Champs-Élysées, Salon, Exposition des Artistes Vivants, 1876, no. 1705. Liverpool, Autumn Exhibition of Modern Pictures, Corporation of Liverpool, 1876. Manchester, Royal Manchester Institution, Annual Exhibition of the Royal Manchester Institution, no. 45. Paris, Palais de Champ de Mars, Exposition Universelle Internationale, 1878. Literature The Theodore Ralli Archive (illustrated). Undated newspaper clip, Th. Ralli archive (discussed). Liverpool Mercury newspaper, October 4, 1876. T. Véron, Dictionnaire Véron ou Mémorial de L'Art et des Artistes de Mon Temps. Le Salon de 1877, Poitiers 1877, p. 360 (discussed). L. Énault, Les Beaux-Arts à Exposition Universelle de 1878, E. Gros, Paris, 1878, p. 100 (discussed). T. Véron, Dictionnaire Véron ou Mémorial de L'Art et des Artistes de Mon Temps. Le Salon de 1878 et L'Exposition Universelle, vol. II, Paris and Poitiers 1878, p. 788 (discussed). D. de Pesquidoux, L'Art dans les Deux Mondes. Peinture et Sculpture (1878), vol. I : L'Art au XIXe Siècle, Plon, Paris, 1881, p. 567 (discussed). É. Cambanis, Théodore Rallis, maîtrise, Université de Paris X - Nanterre, 1984, p. 158. Dictionary of Greek Artists, Melissa editions, vol. 4, Athens 2000, p. 85 (mentioned). Paris-Athens 1863-1940, exhibition catalogue, National Gallery - Alexandros Soutzos Museum, Athens 2006, pp. 199-200 (listed). M. Palioura, The Painting Oeuvre of Theodoros Ralli (1852-1909), doctoral dissertation, University of Athens, Athens 2008, vol. I, p. 27 (mentioned), vol. II, fig. 5 (illustrated). M. Katsanaki, Theodore Ralli, A.G. Leventis Foundation - A.G. Leventis Gallery, Athens 2018, pp. 60-62 (discussed), p. 60 (illustrated). This painting will be a treasure to whoever secures it. Liverpool Mercury, 1876 Following its showing in the 1876 Salon des Artistes Vivants, the 1876 Liverpool Autumn Exhibition and the 1878 Paris Exposition Universelle, Soubrette arrosant des fleurs met with extensive critical acclaim: 'A young girl holding a pitcher is watering, inside a room, flowering plant pots. But here is how successfully Mr. Ralli has captured this most common of ideas. In the middle of an opulent room, a beautifully coloured and elaborately dressed young girl, wearing the clothes of a lady's maid of the previous century, holds out with her right hand an alabaster vessel towards a plant pot, while with her left hand she slightly raises her dress and her apron, in order for them not to be splashed by the water being poured. The slant of the young girl's body is very graceful, as she concentrates on her task and stretches her blonde head towards the flowers showing three quarters of her face, while leaning her body to the right, to stand away from the falling water. Her dress leaves her tender arms bare to the elbows and her neck almost to the chest; and, as it is lifted slightly from below, it reveals her tiny and elegantly shod feet. The light falling sideways colours her rosy cheeks and the light green bodice, which fits tightly around her chest and arms. The plant pots of various shapes and older times, standing on the floor and on tripods, contain plants blossoming with pink and yellow flowers, their broad or narrow verdant leaves spreading out all over. Behind her, at the back of the room, hanging Gobelin tapestries portray battle scenes...Not only once or even twice were we happy to see this young girl watering flowers, who, resembling them in tenderness and being with them, is reminiscent of the lovely season of spring. Juxtaposing Mr. Ralli's present-day painting to last year's, we can tell him that, if he is to progress in a similar way each year, he will soon be vying for an award. Because when one has such facility in drawing, when one knows how to match colours so successfully to generate the feeling which the blonde maiden generates amid the green flowers, and when, lastly, one expresses ideas which have so much in common with aesthetic quality, then how can one not be justified to hope that not long after he will distinguish himself among those exhibiting at shows?' Unidentified clipping in the Theodore Ralli Archive. See also M. Katsanaki, Theodore Ralli, A.G. Leventis Foundation - A.G. Leventis Gallery, Athens 2018, p. 61. 'This is painting with care, knowledge and true industry. It will be a treasure to whoever secures it.' Liverpool Mercury newspaper, October 4, 1876. 'She is sweet and truly poetic, this charming soubrette; her pose has vigour, élan and a truly seductive grace.' T. Véron, Dictionnaire Véron ou Mémorial de L'Art et des Artistes de Mon Temps. Le Salon de 1878 et L'Exposition Universelle, vol. II, Paris and Poitiers 1878, p. 788. For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com