Portraits

A pair of extraordinary portraits of a French aristocratic couple presented in their original giltwood Empire frames with oval windows executed by a a noted early 19th century portrait artist Auguste François Laby ( b 1784 – d 1860 )

The portraits are those of Général Pierre Joseph Armand de Beuverand, Count de la Loyère and his wife Adélaide Marie Charlotte Richard de Montauge Countess of Loyere in Burgundy. They were married in 1815.

The General had a very impressive fully documented military and later political background and as a 23 year old in Napoleons Cavalry saw combat duty n the famous battle of Austerlitz in 1805.

The portrait of the gentleman is signed Laby and dated 1824 on the left hand side of the canvas. The portrait of the spouse is signed Laby a Paris and is dated 1825 on the right side of the canvas. To even confirm who the sitter of the latter portrait was there is a stamp that says ‘Mme Adélaïde Marie Charlotte Richard de Montague C.tesse de la Loyère’ on the back of the canvas

The artist is listed in Benizet where it states that he trained under the famous Jacques Louis David the father of French neoclassicism in the late 18 Century. After his tutorship ended, the artist started exhibiting his works in the prestigious Paris Salon in 1817 and for many years after and became highly sought after portrait artist catering largely to wealthy patrons.

Dimensions: 32″ H x 26″ W