ARTIST: Pierre Francois Eugene GIRAUD (Paris, 1806-1881). Portrait of Madame Desbarolles, dated 1834 Pastel and Gauoche on paper 15" x 11.5", under glass Original superb antique French frame: 22.5" x 18" and 2.25" in depth, overall Noted by hand on the paper, "Giraud and his friend Desbarolles, 1834". Such a stunningly beautiful work of portraiture here, dated for us to the Louis-Philippe era and signed by the noted artist, Pierre Francois Eugene GIRAUD (Paris 1806-1881). ID'd sitter is the friend of the artist, and is Madame Desbarolles. I am unable to find more about her, but our artist is not only a listed French artist, but is also an award winning artist collected well and in numerous museum collections. This French painter, Pierre Francois Eugene Giraud studied at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris and had Hersent Richomme as a teacher. He won the prestigious Prix de Rome in 1826. He made a trip to the Orient in 1846/1847 in the company of Dumas father and son and painter Louis Boulanger. Works of this artist are offered well at noted international auction houses, Sotheby's and Christies, and are in museum collections. I think this is his finest work, however. And she hangs on my dining room wall just now, awaiting her next owner.
This portrait is truly exquisitely crafted, and perhaps so because he paints his friend. The pastel work is in very fine condition, no damage to report at all. Long protected beneath glass in this, what we believe to be the original frame. Re-glazed perhaps by the framer noted by his business stamp on backside, since it is too late a date for the original framing.
