This portrait of Josephine, wife of Napoleon, First Consul of France, represents a new type of more accessible portrait, lacking in official pomp. The First Lady is seen in relaxed pose, with thoughtful gaze, on the open terrace of the palace at Malmaison as she perhaps takes a rest after a walk. The park landscape and bunch of flowers on the divan create an atmosphere of sentimental poetry, emphasizing the inner state of the sitter, which was so typical of the Romantic period. Yet the idealisation of the sitter, the static composition built upon a balance of horizontal and vertical lines, and the classical style of the dress and hairstyle are very much within the traditions of Neoclassicism. This painting is held by the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, Russia; the preceding description is from their web site.
The artist, François Gérard, was a prominent and prolific painter. Born of a middle-class family, his artistic exploits resulted in him being granted noble status in 1809 (after which he was often known as Baron Gérard). He was yet another student of Jacques-Louis David.
No comments:
Post a Comment