* Merry Joseph Blondel Paris 1781-1853

Blondel began his artistic training under the guidance of Baron Regnault.  At the age of 22 Blondel entered and won the Prix de Rome with his rendition of Aeneas Rescuing his Father from Burning Troy.  Shortly thereafter he traveled to Italy and remained there until 1812.

Upon his return to Paris, Blondel was elected a member of the Academy of Beaux-Arts and accepted a post at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts.  Blondel received many commissions and his work can be seen in the gallery of Diana at Fontainbleau and the ceiling in the Henry II Salon in the Musée du Louvre.

The sitter in the present painting is thought to be Charles Viollet.  While not much is known about Charles, his family is rather well known.  His son, Paul, was a historian and founder of the Law Library and his great grand-daughter, Helene Roger-Viollet, founded the Mainson Roger-Viollet, the largest foundation devoted to photography in France.