Lot 1422 Dα

During his time, Robert Lefèvre was counted among the most sought after portraitists in Paris after Gérard and David. In fact, the majority of his work consists of paintings in public collections: Versailles Palace, the Louvre or the Caen Museum. By introduction of Baron Denon, Napoleon and the Imperial Court became his patrons. The Museum of Mons owns a full portrait of the Emperor dated 1812, the Musée Carnavelet another slate portrait from 1809. The Suermondt-Ludwig-Museum in Aachen has a portrait of his first wife. It shows Empress Josephine before a view an the town of Aachen through a window.
In 1807, he painted Napoleon's early consort, Desirée, at that time the Queen of Sweden. Contrary to these aristrocratic portraits, our painting shows a wordly burgher, the young merchant Elias Meyer, whose life took place between Hannover and Paris. It was in the possession of one of his descendents. For a portrait of his wife Miga Levy Calmer see lot 1391.