Emile Desmaisons

This chromolithograph by Émile Desmaisons showcases a genre scene from 17th century France, featuring a gentleman and two ladies engrossed in reading a book. It is signed and dated 1834 in the lower left corner and remains in excellent condition, with only minor scuffing on the armchair's right side (see photos).

Émile Pierre Desmaisons (Paris, December 19, 1812 - Montlignon, January 28, 1880) was a French lithographer and photographer.

A student at the Beaux-Arts in Paris, Desmaisons took lessons from Lethière and Granger. As designer and lithographer, he took over as head of his father's publishing house located in Paris at 5 rue des Grands Augustins.

Desmaisons exhibited from 1831 at the Paris Salon, first painted portraits, then from 1833, lithographed drawings. His abundant works were present at the Salon regularly until 1879. In his studio he also produced “carte de visite” portraits of his contemporaries.

In 1848, he coordinated the Gallery of People's Representatives, an album of lithographed portraits published by Basset, which earned him a first-class medal. On July 5, 1863, he was named Chevalier of the Legion of Honour as a lithographer artist.

Sources: Benezit, Dictionary of Artists; Annuaire des artistes et des amateurs, Volumen 1 (1860); Les graveurs du Dix-neuvième siècle, Volumen 5 (1886); Archives de France.

Artist: Émile Desmaisons (1812-1880).
Signed and dated in the lower left corner.
Medium: Chromolithography on paper.
Condition: Very good condition.
Dimensions: 33 x 25,5 cm. / 13 x 10 in.
Frame: 40,5 x 33 cm. / 16 x 13 in. Wood, very good condition.
Origin: France.