LOUIS-NICOLAS LEMASLE (French 1788-1870). Henri IV And His Mistress, 1826. Oil on canvas. 61-3/4 x 42-1/4 (157 x 107.3 c...

Description

LOUIS-NICOLAS LEMASLE (French 1788-1870)
Henri IV And His Mistress, 1826
Oil on canvas
61-3/4 x 42-1/4 (157 x 107.3 cm)
Signed, dated and inscribed: Henri IV avec / Sa Maitiesse / Peint par Louis Lemasle / chevalier de la Legion / d'honneur / 1826
On verso is a canvas maker's stamp from France

Provenance:
Castle Hotel (Velden, Carinthia);
Sale, the Art Trade (Vienna, Austria);
Shephard Gallery (Robert Kashey, New York)(by 1993, aqcuired at the above sale)

Exhibition:
Shepard Gallery (New York), Fall 1993, From Isabey to Noguchi: Paintings, Drawings, Sculpture, cat. No. 9, (color illustration)<

Literature:

Catalgue, From Isabey to Noguchi: Paintings, Drawings, Sculpture; Shepard Gallery, New York, NY, Fall 1993 (No. 9, color illustration);
Hans Naef, Kie Bildniszcichnugnen von J.-A.-D. Ingres, Bern 1977, vol. 1, pp. 268-272

The offered painting depicts one of six scenes from the life of Herny IV (1533-1610), all executed by Lemasle during a revivalist period known as style Troubadour. This particular work depicts an event from 1587 when Henry IV was in need of additional troops, which Countess de Gramont funded. Henry IV's subsequent triumph assisted him in securing the crown and thus after the battle of Coutras he laid the captured flags at the feet of his mistress.

Lemasle studied under David at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts before traveling to Rome where he had his portrait drawn by Ingres in 1812. He was fortunate enough to become enlisted in service to the Prince of Salerno in Naples. The prince's patronage would provide Lemasle with security and opportunity for years to come in the form of the prince's sister, the Duchess de Berry.

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