Shipped home from France a decade or so ago, this large portrait has been a personal favorite. Very dignified French judge (Magistrat) or magistrate by translation, he wears the dignified look and robes and hat of his station. He proudly wears the French Legion of Honor medal, or is this one the Order of Saint Louis (Louis XVI). Excellent 19th century oil painting and gentleman, the canvas has possibly been cut down from an even larger one, professionally bonded to a stronger linen canvas and stretched on a stretcher frame which is at minimum, 70 years newer than the oil painting. Old paintings on linen canvas do deteriorate over centuries or even many decades, and this restoration procedure saves them. That said, I feel certain it is a painting which would have had an artist's signature, but it no longer shows in aperture. Often, the most damage to a painting is at outer edges where its stretcher frame pushes or creates an edge at which damage can occur. Frame is also not as old as the painting, but is approximately 1910-50s, is very heavy solid old wood, nicely made, and in very nice condition. As I've noted before, portraits like this, State officials and such, become less valuable many generations later and the old original large frames become more and more valuable, often are separated and sold on their own to be used with large mirrors in more modern aesthetic homes, decor. Isn't he just too grand!
Very good to excellent as you see him, age and type considered. The notations made above to to condition and preservation. The original oil painting would date mid-late 1800s, Napoleon III's reign (ca850-70), give or take a few years. Fabulous for a gentleman's den or office. Statement portrait!
