1878, French Society Portraitist, Paris London Brazil: Portrait of a Young Child

19th century

Sold by Skippings Fine Arts

Description

A must for anyone with an interest in 19th century portraiture: a wonderful depiction of a young child with deep blue eyes by the highly acclaimed international society portraitist Edouard Viénot (1804-1884).

Born in Fontainebleau, Vienot studied at the École des Beaux Arts in Paris, and with Guérin and Hersent. Viénot is probably to be identified with "Le chevalier Viennot" who was active as a portrait painter in London in 1826 and 1827, when he had an address at 20 York Street, Portman Square. From this address he exhibited two paintings at the Royal Academy in 1826 (Miss Paton of Covent Garden Theatre and Sir Robert Shaw, Bart., of Dublin) and three paintings at the Society of British Artists in 1827.

In France, Viénot's paintings were regularly selected by the jury of the Paris Salon between 1831 and 1870.

One of Vienot's subjects was Marie Duplessis. Her portait by Vienot was reproduced in the Royal Opera's programme for Verdi's La Traviata at the Royal Albert Hall in May 1998. Marie Duplessis was the real-life actress and courtesane on whom Dumas modelled the heroine in La Dame aux Camélias, on which La Traviata is based.

Viénot's portrait of the Emperor Pedro II of Brazil is in the Imperial Museum in Brazil. Also in Brazil is his Retrato de Menina [a portrait of a young girl in a blue dress] which hangs in the Museu Regional de São João del-Rei.

Viénot also did some portraits for different Spanish families established in South America during that period, such as the family González del Collado.

Our painting is an oval oil on canvas measuring 42 x 32cm.

It is signed at the lower left and dated 1878. The canvas also bears the artist's stamp on the verso, with his Paris studio address, 92 rue de la Victoire. In very good overall condition - both canvas and stretcher are original - one minor accident to the canvas has been repaired. The overall size with a more recent oval frame is 50 x 40cm

Physical Dimensions

Height

42cm (16.54")

Width

32cm (12.60")

Depth

1cm (0.39")

Declaration

Skippings Fine Arts has dated this piece to the 1870s.

Reference Numbers

Sellingantiques Reference

SA620508

Dealers Notes

Nous parlons français, und wir sprechen auch Deutsch! Paintings may be viewed in Norwich and in Paris, as well as in London and Cambridge by appointment. Please contact us if you would like further details and images of an artwork.

Description

“

Born in Fontainebleau, Vienot studied at the École des Beaux Arts in Paris, and with Guérin and Hersent.

Skippings Fine Arts

Viénot is probably to be identified with "Le chevalier Viennot" who was active as a portrait painter in London in 1826 and 1827, when he had an address at 20 York Street, Portman Square. From this address he exhibited two paintings at the Royal Academy in 1826 (Miss Paton of Covent Garden Theatre and Sir Robert Shaw, Bart., of Dublin) and three paintings at the Society of British Artists in 1827.

fig 1. 1878, French society portraitist, Paris London Brazil: portrait of a young child — fig 1. 1878, French Society Portraitist, Paris London Brazil: Portrait of a Young Child

In France, Viénot's paintings were regularly selected by the jury of the Paris Salon between 1831 and 1870.

One of Vienot's subjects was Marie Duplessis. Her portait by Vienot was reproduced in the Royal Opera's programme for Verdi's La Traviata at the Royal Albert Hall in May 1998. Marie Duplessis was the real-life actress and courtesane on whom Dumas modelled the heroine in La Dame aux Camélias, on which La Traviata is based.

fig 2. 1878, French society portraitist, Paris London Brazil: portrait of a young child — fig 2. 1878, French Society Portraitist, Paris London Brazil: Portrait of a Young Child

Viénot's portrait of the Emperor Pedro II of Brazil is in the Imperial Museum in Brazil. Also in Brazil is his Retrato de Menina [a portrait of a young girl in a blue dress] which hangs in the Museu Regional de São João del-Rei.

fig 3. 1878, French society portraitist, Paris London Brazil: portrait of a young child — fig 3. 1878, French Society Portraitist, Paris London Brazil: Portrait of a Young Child

Viénot also did some portraits for different Spanish families established in South America during that period, such as the family González del Collado.

Our painting is an oval oil on canvas measuring 42 x 32cm.

fig 4. 1878, French society portraitist, Paris London Brazil: portrait of a young child — fig 4. 1878, French Society Portraitist, Paris London Brazil: Portrait of a Young Child

It is signed at the lower left and dated 1878. The canvas also bears the artist's stamp on the verso, with his Paris studio address, 92 rue de la Victoire. In very good overall condition - both canvas and stretcher are original - one minor accident to the canvas has been repaired. The overall size with a more recent oval frame is 50 x 40cm