“Portrait du Docteur Boucard” (detail) by Tamara de Lempicka, 1928. Oil on canvas. 53⅛ x 29½ in (135 x 75 cm)
The art of Tamara de Lempicka defines the golden era of Art Deco. Her oil canvases speak to a time of luxury and opulence, capturing elite members of society. And now, a rare painting by the artist is will go up for auction. During Christie’s 20th/21st Century sale in London on March 5, 2025, the artist’s Portrait du Docteur Boucard will be up for sale.
The 1928 oil painting is a portrait of prominent art collector Doctor Pierre Boucard, who was an important patron of the artist. Boucard commissioned the painting, which features him wearing a white trench coat reminiscent of a lab coat. He holds a test tube in one hand, while the other sits on a microscope, nodding to his status as a scientist.
Known for her seductive portraits of women, Portrait du Docteur Boucard is a rare case of a man taking center stage in Lempicka’s art. His smoldering gaze makes him almost appear as a movie star, while his serpentine pose creates the perfect composition.
“His upturned collar, pearl-accented tie, and sharply defined features convey both intellectual authority and cosmopolitan charm,” writes Christie’s in a statement about the auction. “Looking away with quiet confidence, Boucard, like many of Lempicka’s subjects, exudes the sophistication and ambition of the haute société to which he belonged.”
Dr. Boucard would have likely been pleased with the depiction. The esteemed bacteriologist helped revolutionize pharmaceutical science in 1907 when he invented Lactéol—a probiotic that laid the foundation for modern gut health. Lempicka’s elegant, high-class depiction of the doctor would certainly be in keeping with how he wished the world to view him.
“Lempicka’s Portrait du Docteur Boucard is a striking blend of modernity and individuality, demonstrating her ability to weave personal identity with the scientific and cultural ambitions of her time,” shares Giovanna Bertazzoni, chairman, Christie’s Europe. “The painting radiates vitality, offering a remarkably subtle yet profound psychological study of modern man.”
As Portrait du Docteur Boucard hasn’t been for sale in 40 years, seeing how a male portrait by De Lempicka fares on the market will be interesting. Christie’s values the painting at between £5 million and £8 million ($6.18 million and $9.89 million). The artist’s auction record stands at £16.28 million ($21.16 million) for Portrait de Marjorie Ferry, which sold at Christie’s London in February 2020.
A rare male portrait by Tamara de Lempicka is going up for auction at Christie’s London on March 5, 2025.
“Portrait du Docteur Boucard” by Tamara de Lempicka, 1928. Oil on canvas. 53⅛ x 29½ in (135 x 75 cm)
Source: Tamara de Lempicka’s Portrait du Docteur Boucard: ‘Among a hundred paintings, you could always recognise mine’
My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by Christie’s.
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