Jean Béraud

Russian-born French painter Jean Béraud was an attentive observer of Parisian life and ardent chronicler of the Belle Époque, capturing the city's bustling streets and quintessential characters. Sir Campbell Clarke (1835-1902) began his professional career as a librarian for the British Museum in London. In 1870, he married Annie Levy, the daughter of J. M. Levy, owner of The Daily Telegraph, and was appointed the paper's special correspondent in Paris, where he stood for this portrait in 1890 with a copy of the day's paper rolled neatly in his upended top hat at right. Clarke travelled widely while covering European news for the British publication, and was the first to break news of the English occupation of Cyprus, among other noteworthy international events of his time. He was also an active fixture on the Parisian art, music, drama, and literary scenes, serving on the jury for two Paris Exhibitions. In the present portrait, Béraud adeptly captured the essence of the worldly and distinguished gentleman reporter, whose smoking cigar signals the swift nature of his profession.