MANHATTAN — Scholars and art connoisseurs have long considered Antoine Watteau’s "La Surprise" a masterpiece of 18th century French painting. But, after Watteau fell out of fashion in the 19th century, the painting fell out of view and was presumed lost for nearly 200 years.
"La Surprise," rediscovered in an English private collection in 2007, made a brief appearance at the Metropolitan Museum of Art's “Watteau, Music and Theater,” in 2009's tribute to the Met's director emeritus, Philippe de Montebello.
Now the treasured painting is back on the Upper East Side, where it will remain for the next two years, hanging amid great French works by Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres and Claude Monet in the Frick Collection's North Hall.
"It was owned and discussed by the greatest connoisseurs of 18th century art," said Colin B. Bailey, deputy director and chief curator at the Frick, and yet, "It was so easy to lose it and forget. … It just fell out of view."
The small oil painting, well preserved on a 14.5 inch by 11.5 inch panel, was originally in the collection of Nicolas Hénin, who lived from 1691 to 1724. He served as councilor to the king of France and was a close friend of Watteau. The work then entered several prestigious Parisian collections before moving to England and vanishing from public view.
Bailey, who has written extensively about Watteau, flew to England in 2008 when "La Surprise" came to auction at Christie's, where it sold for a record $24.4 million to an unidentified British-based collector. Bailey saw it next at the Met show, and spent two years trying to bring it to the Frick.
"I'd say it was the most important Watteau picture to come on the market in my career," Bailey said.
"It's so sensual and romantic," he said, describing how the theatrically-dressed guitarist is about to serenade a couple. They are "oblivious" to the performer as they're enraptured with each other.
"The swoon of that woman as the man comes in to kiss her," Bailey said. " You'll see how mesmerizing it is."
The Frick has only one Watteau in its permanent collection, "The Portal at Valenciennes," which Bailey described as a "beautiful, tender early example" of the artist. "La Surprise" is a more mature example of the his work.
England tried to prevent "La Surprise" from leaving the country, with the British culture minister temporarily imposing an export ban on the masterpiece in June, according to reports.
"Watteau is rare. I wouldn't say he's as rare as Vermeer, but he's pretty rare," Bailey said, comparing Watteau to the 17th century Dutch painter with roughly 35 known works attributed to him.
As the Frick's "Picasso's Drawings: 1890 – 1921: Reinventing Tradition," draws big crowds before it leaves Jan. 8, 2012, the museum is giving Watteau's painting time and space to quietly shine.
"It's not like an exhibition where you have to focus everyone's attention on it," Bailey said, noting that there will be a series of public lectures and gallery talks offered over the next year to examine the painting.
"We've installed it in a very prominent place," Bailey said. "It really feels like it's been there forever. It feels very much like a Frick picture."
