Offered by Galerie William Diximus
This painting depicts a captain of the National Guard on horseback between 1814 and 1830 in an elegant and confident pose. Attributed to the painter Joseph Kinson, the model is dressed in a dark uniform with light-colored facings, richly embellished with braid, aiguillettes, and decorations, reflecting his rank of captain in the army.
The composition is carefully constructed:
The figure leans casually on a stone balustrade, creating a dynamic and natural posture.
The helmet with a white plume, placed nearby, acts as an emblematic martial attribute.
The saber, held with restraint, symbolizes authority without ostentation.
The landscape and classical architecture in the background reinforce the noble and official character of the portrait.
The palette is harmonious, dominated by deep tones, balanced by the brightness of whites and golds, giving the whole a great visual elegance.
The work is fully in line with the tradition of early 19th-century French official portraiture, heir to late Neoclassicism.
The attribution to Joseph Kinson is based on several consistent stylistic and contextual elements:
Joseph Kinson is known for his portraits of officers, dignitaries, and figures of imperial and post-imperial society, characterized by elegant sobriety, controlled realism, and an absence of excessive dramatization, in favor of the dignity of the model.
These characteristics are clearly observable in the present painting.
The rendering of the face, both idealized and faithful, closely corresponds to the portraits attributed to Kinson, particularly in: The delicacy of the gaze and the expressive restraint
The representation of the uniform and military attributes corresponds precisely to the period of activity of Joseph Kinson, who was active during the transition years between the Empire and the Restoration, a time when demand for this type of portrait was particularly strong.
This painting is a fine example of an early 19th-century portrait of a French officer, thanks to its pictorial quality, refined composition, and excellent state of preservation.
The attribution to Joseph Kinson (1770-1839) appears consistent and credible, both stylistically and historically.
Dimensions without frame: 207 x 130.5cm
Dimensions with frame: 226 x 159cm
