Lot 1518 Dα

In 1786 Gérard joined the studio of David in Paris where he was supposedly a favourite pupil. His greatest artistic success came during the reign of Napoleon. For his first commission he created a series of large historical paintings which are now located in the Palace of Versailles. In addition, Gérard was also the official painter of state portraits of the first Empire and historian to the Bonaparte family. Later, he was sponsored by Louis XVIII, who ennobled him in 1819. Since this painting is signed Baron Gérard, it is dateable between 1819 and 1837 when he died. Apart from the portraits of the Bonaparte family, the portraits of Isabey with his young daughter and also Madame Recamier, both in the Louvre, can be considered his most famous paintings.