- 539
Henri-François Riesener
Description
- Henri-François Riesener
- Portrait of Jean-Henri Riesener (1734 - 1806), the artist's father
- signed and dated lower left: Riesener / 1800
- oil on canvas
Provenance
Condition
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Catalogue Note
Cabinetmaker of the King, official supplier to the royal court and family, Jean-Henri Riesener was a leader in developing the more Rococo style of Louis XV furniture towards the more harmonious and elegant neoclassicism of the late eighteenth century. During the French Revolution, the Riesener family fortune disappeared with the privileges of the royal artists; it was at this time that his son, Henri-François, began to make a living as a painter. Under the influence of Jacques-Louis David, he became a talented portraitist and exhibited regularly at the Salon.
The present portrait, dated 1800, is from the early stages of the artist's career. It is not only a tribute of a son to his father, but also illustrates Riesener's ability to grasp the psychology of his models. Henri-François traveled to Warsaw, St. Petersburg and Moscow, where he was introduced to the Tsar by the Grand Duke Constantine. He returned to France to continue his career after nearly seven years in Russia.
This painting will be included in the catalogue raisonné on the artist currently being prepared by Alexis Bordes.