Anthelme-François Lagrenée
Paris, 1774 – 1832
Animated landscape
Black stone, ink and gray wash, highlights of white gouache on beige paper laminated by the top edge to an antique mount.
181 x 247 mm – 7 1/8 x 9 ¾ in.
Signed “Lagrenée” lower left.
Anthelme-François Lagrenée, born December 14, 1774, died April 27, 1832, was a French painter, son of Louis-Jean-François Lagrenée. He studied in Vincent’s studio, then had to give up the fine arts for a while to satisfy military requisitioning in 1793, before returning to painting and exhibiting at the Salon from 1799. Like his father and uncle, he traveled to Russia, where he enjoyed the favor of Emperor Alexander I. Residing for several years in the city of St. Petersburg, he painted several portraits for the emperor, as well as historical pictures. On his return to France, he concentrated mainly on cameos and miniatures.
Anthelme-François remains best known for his miniatures, although a spectacular drawing of a Greek warrior being chased by a tiger while his horse is attacked by two lions recently appeared on the market and joined the Art Institute of Chicago (1). The Louvre also preserves travel diaries and landscape drawings, with which ours can be compared. For example, this view of the Louvre through the trees (Ill. 1), with its similar treatment of foliage. The same signature can be found on another drawing of a staircase next to a low wall framed by trees (Ill. 2).
Condition – Good overall condition. Two small tears on the lower edge, in the middle.
Antique gilded wood stick.
(1) Alexandre Lafore – Article from La tribune de l’Art, September 13, 2023
