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Lot Essay
When this portrait appeared at auction in 1988 it was identified as a work by Baron François Gérard, and the attribution was endorsed by Alain Latreille, who stated his intention to include it in his forthcoming catalogue raisonné of Gérard's works. The auctioneers tentatively considered the sitter to be Queen Hortense.
M. Latreille no longer accepts the painting as a work by Gérard. In the absence of documentary or archival evidence which would secure the attribution to Gérard, M. Latreille now believes the portrait to be 'a very fine work' from an artist in Gérard's atelier or immediate circle (verbal communication); he tentatively suggests the artist Marie-Elénore Godefroy (1778-1849) as a possible alternative candidate for its authorship. For another portrait by Godefroy, see Christie's, New York, 26 May 2000, lot 64.
Our thanks to Alain Latreille for his assistance in preparing this entry.
M. Latreille no longer accepts the painting as a work by Gérard. In the absence of documentary or archival evidence which would secure the attribution to Gérard, M. Latreille now believes the portrait to be 'a very fine work' from an artist in Gérard's atelier or immediate circle (verbal communication); he tentatively suggests the artist Marie-Elénore Godefroy (1778-1849) as a possible alternative candidate for its authorship. For another portrait by Godefroy, see Christie's, New York, 26 May 2000, lot 64.
Our thanks to Alain Latreille for his assistance in preparing this entry.