Jean-Louis-Ernest Meissonier, French 1815-1891- Study of a cavalier standing full-length;...

Jean-Louis-Ernest Meissonier,
French 1815-1891-

Study of a cavalier standing full-length;

oil on panel, signed with monogram (centre right), 25.5 x 17 cm.

Provenance:
Private Collection, UK (by descent).

Note:
We are grateful to Francois Robichon for confirming the authenticity of the present work.

This study has the appearance of being unfinished. It bears close resemblance to the artist's 1880 oil on panel ‘Gentilhomme frisant sa moustache’, held at the Musée d'Orsay, Paris [no.RF1860], in turn made into a photogravure by Frank Sternberg (1859-1923) in the early 20th century, and it is possible that the present lot was a preparatory work for the Paris picture. The figure also appears in a pen and ink drawing ‘Cavalier Louis XIII frisant sa moustache’, which is reproduced in 'G. Meissonier. Ses Souvenirs. Ses Entretiens', 1897, p.286-7, likely a preparatory working for this and for the d’Orsay panel. Meissonier was the teacher of Édouard Detaille (1848-1912), with the two artists sharing a strong interest in military subjects. He was particularly celebrated for his paintings of figures in historical dress. This character study is highly enigmatic, with the viewer invited to interpret the abstracted gaze of the soldier at rest.