Posted 8 months ago
kivatinitz
(342 items)
Several years ago, we bought two old oil paintings on Wood to one of the best antique sellers here in Córdoba City Argentina. I am going to post them separately. These are small 27 x 22 cm and were unframed. All the other paintings I have are oils on canvas and signed by local famous painters, instead these ones are clearly older an almost certainly French. I am not fond of to military items or images but these two little images are about moments of ordinary life.
This one depicts an injured general sitted on a “feauteil de malade” playing chess with a lady, probably a wife or daughter. Everything feel so actual, both armchairs are made of the materials that were used in winter gardens or in galleries, canne or bambou that of the wounded man and the rattan that of the woman. Most probably, they are in a porche, it is the beginning of autum since there are fallen leaves in the floor that seem are being move by a cold breeze. The man has the injured leg on a big cushion (the woman has another one smaller on her lap) and there is a walking stick against the little table. The checkerboard is supported by one of the extensions that have the armrests of the chair, only the two kings and a bishop remained on it. The man is defeated as it is shown by his entire posture while she is in a relaxed but triumphal position, the right hand has just moved the bishop and the left leg over the right one denotes that they are alone so she can seat without etiquette. Could it be an allegory for a lost battle?
He wears the uniform Brigadier General of the Napoleon III, with the famous red trouser (Rouge Garance) and black or navy blue tunic, the kepi with the gold embroidery denotes the rank. The woman has a dress that is in the taste of around 1870 (https://fashionhistory.fitnyc.edu/1870-1879/ ). I tried to see if it is a portrait of someone but is a hard work, probably it could be one of famous Napoleo III general i.e. Bazaine or Niel. There is a presentation card of Bazaine with his second wife the Mexican Josefa Peña (alias Pepita) where both are dressed very alike to the picture (last picture) or Adolphe Niels (last picture) with his wife Clémence Maillères, in both cases the wives were around 20 years younger than the generals. These two couples could have been in a palace with a big gardens, Napoleon III gave the Buenavista residencein Mexican city as a present to Bazaine and the Niels Palais was built for Adolphe Niels in Toulouse, a neo-classical building made of yellow brick comprises of five wings, a landscaped garden and pavilions that could be the places portrait here. The chair where she is sat resembles the ones done by Alfre Perret registered in the category Furniture and decoration for gardens as producer of chairs, armchairs, sofa, wicker tables and garden furniture in 1875 (last picture). The small table is a Thonet that matches the number 2 chair model of the first published catalog (last picture), this model is one of the first produced and discontinued at the end of 1800. In the back several riders on the central avenue of the garden that are galloping. I am not an expert but I think the style of the painting is in line with the first impressionists.
There are a lot of details like the dog resting near the general, the white towels, the tea service on the table, the texture of the silk coat the woman is using.
I will appreciate any hint you can provide me about this painting.
Thanks to dav2no1, he told me in the comments that this two are copies or reinterpratations of Auguste Loustaunau paintings. I think that the movement and lights are interesting in my copy.
Oh my!! This is incredible!! So realistically done. I love your writeup as well.
Thanks a lot jscotto363, it is hard to me writing in English not a scientific work......
very interesting! it does remind me somewhat of works by Edouard Manet.
Original is same artist as your other post..
https://www.artnet.com/artists/louis-auguste-georges-loustaunau/domestic-comforts-4uyKtUy9KYGq17xmeC6s1A2
DejaVu2, vetraio50, kwqd, ho2cultcha, dav2no1, jscott0363 and yougottahavestuff thanks for looking
thanks for your kind comment ho2cultcha
dav2no1 thanks so much you are a professor....
MishMasher, mikelv85, Newfld, fortapache and Cisum so much appreciated are your loves