Paul Delaroche

Paul Delaroche
Thence by decent in the Delaroche-Vernet family
From whom acquired by the present owner

Paris, Palais des Beaux-Arts, Exposition des oeuvres de Paul Delaroche, 21 April 1857, no. 42
Nantes, Musée des Beaux-Arts; Montpellier, Pavillon du Musée Fabre, Paul Delaroche: un peintre dans l'histoire, 22 October 1999 - 23 April 2000, no. 84

J. Goddé, Exposition des oeuvres de Paul Delaroche, exhibition catalogue, cat. no. 42, reproduced plate 56
N.D. Ziff, Paul Delaroche, A Study of Nineteenth-Century French History Painting, New York and London 1977, p.299, cat. no. 181, reproduced p. 394, fig. 141
S. Bann, Paul Delaroche, History Painted, Princeton 1997, p. 235-236, repoduced p. 237, fig. 147
C Cosneau-Allemand and I. Julia, Paul Delaroche: un peintre dans l'histoire, exhibition catalogue, Nantes 1999,  pp. 169 and 322 cat. no 84, reproduced

Oil on canvas, lined. There is a small repaired tear - 3 by 2 inches - along the sitter's right shoulder. There is a small area of repaint along his wrist as well as his left shoulder. The varnish appears uneven, but this could also be due to the unfinished application of paint in the picture. There may be some further strengthening in the craquelure beneath the varnish, but this is quite minor and overall the picture is very striking an in favorable state. In an elaborately carved and gilt wood frame.
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This portrait shows the artist's son at the age of fifteen, having recently recovered from a severe illness. Paul Delaroche married Louise, daughter of Horace Vernet in 1835. She died ten years later at the age of 31, a tragedy from which it is said Delaroche would never recover. This portrait has added poignancy given the resemblance of Horace to his mother, who we recognize in Delaroche’s Head of an Angel exhibited the year he and Louise were married.¹

1.  S. Bann, under Literature, op. cit., p.233, reproduced fig. 144.