Bernard Gaillot (1780-1847) Portraits Of Two Sisters

Bernard GAILLOT
(Versailles 1780 – Paris, 1847)
Portraits of two sisters
Pair of oil on canvas
H. 92 cm; L. 73 cm
One signed

Student of David, he presented his first works at the Salon of 1810. Mainly known for his portraits of children, his work does not seem extremely vast. More than a dozen religious paintings are kept in large Parisian or provincial churches (Val de Grâce, Saint-Denis, Notre Dame des Victoires, Collégiale d'Eu, etc.), and a few paintings on historical subjects are kept at the Palace of Versailles, made during major orders from Louis-Philippe for the opening of the Versailles Museum. He also produced numerous humorous drawings, mainly in wash, some of which were engraved.

Our two portraits of little girls most certainly represent sisters and had remained in the family until today. Unfortunately, time has made them lose their identity... One is shown sitting at the foot of a tree, in front of a kiosk with very beautiful neoclassical architecture. She holds in her arms a multitude of freshly picked flowers, which she holds awkwardly. His sister with her little red patent shoes dips her feet in the pure water of a built fountain. Blue Irises are behind her. These two matching portraits express all the purity of childhood, between the source, the flowers and the white outfits which reveal the pure skin of the little girls. Innocence, purity, virginity, all the language is there.