This enchanting late 19th-century French oil painting depicts the head of a bearded man.
Rendered with an abundance of consideration and feeling, the introspection of the figure portrayed is palpable. A monogram in the lower right reads ‘HD’, but the artist is yet to be determined. One lead is Henri-Camille Danger (1857-1939), a French painter known for historical, allegorical and mythological subjects, such as his ‘La Transgression du Commandement’ (1892).
How the piece came into being is a mystery. It’s conceivably one of three things: a study for a larger work, an academic piece, or a partial copy of an old master. If it’s the latter, stylistically it’s likely to be after a piece from the Baroque period.
Either way, it possesses a quiet, honest charm. It’s one to ponder over.
Held in a contemporary frame.
Medium: Oil on canvas
Overall size: 19½” x 23” / 49cm x 58cm
Year of creation: c. 1890
Provenance: Private collection, France.
Condition: Cleaned. Areas of fine and settled craquelure, as you would expect. The paint layer is stable. A horizontal mark through the centre, presumably due to an earlier fold. Frame in excellent condition.
Our reference: BRV2119
