Portrait of an elegant man seated with his arm resting on a book with a red leather cover entitled "Contributions Indirectes - 1830", which suggests that he was a senior treasury official.
Benoist Benjamin Bonvoisin, was a French painter born in Le Havre (Seine-Maritime) on December 23, 1788. He was the second son of François-Toussaints Bonvoisin (1741-1815), author of a famous collection of manuscripts relating to the loss of the French colony of La Martinique entitled "Le Précis de la Révolution". He studied in Paris under Jacques-Louis David (1748-1825), specializing in portraits and religious and historical scenes. He became known with the presentation of his work "Sommeil de l'enfant Jésus" at the Salon de Paris in 1840 and later, in 1844, with his work "Amateur de tableaux dans son cabinet". He died in Montvilliers (Seine-Maritime) on June 23, 1860.
Sources: Benezit, Dictionary of Artists; Archives de France; Saunier Éric, Études Normandes, 57e année, n°2, 2008.
Artist: Benoist Bonvoisin (1788-1860).
Signed on right.
Medium: Oil on canvas.
Condition: Very good. Recently relined and restored.
Dimensions: 81 x 65 cm. / 32 x 25 1/2 in.
Frame: 99 x 83 cm. / 39 x 32 3/4 in. Gilt wood and stucco, very good condition.
Origin: France.
