It might be thought that there is little left to be said about Gericault. He was one of those artists who left a strong, profound and enduring mark on his age. He holds a significant place in the history of 19th-century art and had a considerable impact on the younger generation of French artists and on the generations that came later – right up to the present day.

Gericault, the First Romantic

The Elmores and Gericault: A London Friendship

1819 was a crucial year for Gericault. It was the year of his great masterpiece, which marked his entry into the history of western painting: the Radeau de la Méduse [The Raft of the Medusa] (ill. 1).

Gericault and England – ‘The Best Place To Study’

Paris

London

Théodore Gericault needs no introduction. He is one of the major figures in early 19th-century Western painting, on a par with David, Ingres and Delacroix in France, and Friedrich, Turner and Goya in the rest of Europe. In other words, a great master, despite his early death at the age of 32. The reappearance of works from the Elmore collection is a major event for the art market. Such an unprecedented group of works, with a perfect provenance being traced back to the artist himself, has not been seen at auction since the 19th century. Preciously preserved by the descendants of the Elmore family for 200 years, the Gericault Elmore collection is unique in its quality, in the nature of the works it contains, and in its unquestionable provenance. It was indeed assembled, or rather commissioned, by an extraordinary man, Adam Elmore (1784-1849). The collection now consists of seven major works: four works on paper, preserved in an absolutely exceptional state of conservation, a painting executed by Pierre Subleyras and retouched, almost a century later, by Gericault, and finally the portraits of the commissioners of these works, Adam and Zoë Elmore. This collection, assembled by Adam and Zoë Elmore, is by far the most important group of works resulting from Gericault's stay in London, both in terms of quantity and quality, and is by far the most precious testimony we have to date to the artist's trip to England, and beyond that, to the influence he had on the entire French school of painting.

Senior Director, Head of Department, Old Master and 19th Century Paintings

Olivier Lefeuvre

Deputy Director, Specialist, Old Master and 19th Century Paintings

Côme Rombout

Cataloguer, Old Master and 19th Century Paintings

Clémence Enriquez

Administrator, Old Master and 19th Century Paintings

Valentine Klein

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The discovery of works by Gericault from the Elmore collection, which have not been shown or exhibited for more than fifty years, is an exciting event for all admirers of the artist and of 19th-century European painting. In addition to their artistic and historical importance, these works are a unique and moving testament to a family that has preserved a treasure notable for its rare, fresh quality – an important milestone in the artist’s career, as well as an authentic reflection of an era and the product of a special friendship.

Gericault, La Collection Elmore