380

Astley David Middleton Cooper (American/California, 1856-1924), "Seduction of Danae," c. 1885-1890,

oil on canvas, signed lower left, presented in a giltwood frame,
H.- 42 1/4 in., W.- 70 1/4 in., Framed- H.- 49 1/2 in., W.- 78 1/2 in.

  • Provenance: Victorian Casino Antiques, Las Vegas, October 15, 2006, lot 698; The Estate of Joseph A. Jaeger, Jr., New Orleans, LA.
  • Condition: Cooper's large allegorical nudes were often purchased by California hotels and clubs and adorned the walls of many smoking parlors for men. The condition of this work strongly suggests it was one of those pieces. There is significant soiling (soot, dirt) and yellowing (tar) to the surface with light buckling, flaking and cleavage (lifting of pigment from canvas) to the bottom of the painting-which is suggestive of heat exposure from a fireplace or gas lanterns. While the cleavage and flaking on the far right has been largely untouched, it has been poorly inpainted (bottom 2.5 inches) on the left side. Some of the signature in the lower left corner has been effaced (flaking). There are two 3 inch vertical tears to the left and right sides of the canvas that have been stabilized by wax and correspondent inpainting. The tears appear to have been previously taped en verso. There is a 2.5 inch vertical tear to the winged putto in the sky on the right side with a correspondent taped patch en verso. A small pinhead-sized hole is slightly visible at the right stretcher edged. Stretcher marks to the left and right sides and light buckling to the bottom are present due to slack from the canvas. Surface exhibits craquelure and whitish blooming (oxidation to varnish). The painting, due to size, was not examined under UV light. Aside from the previously mentioned layman inpainting and taped repairs, the work does not exhibit signs of past professional restoration, and the condition is commensurate with that given age, material, use. The painting is impressive and beautiful in its present state and deserves to be restored to its original glory that ADM Cooper may have painted as an allegory of Evening that was sold at auction in 1887 at Armory Hall in San Francisco.

    Condition is not stated in the description of the item. The absence of a condition report does not mean that the item is free of damage or condition issues. Some items do show signs of age or wear. CCAG strongly suggests that you do not bid without requesting a condition report. Requests for condition reports will not be honored after 5 p.m. CST on the Tuesday prior to the auction.

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November 7, 2025 10:00 AM CST
New Orleans, LA, US

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