François-louis Lanfant De Metz, The Lesson Of The Old Napoleonic Grognard, Oil On Panel

François-louis LANFANT DE METZ
(Sierck-les-Bains 1814-1892 Havre)
The Lesson of the Old Napoleonic Grognard
oil on panel
18 x 24 cm ; 37 x 43 cm (framed)
signed ‘Lenfant Metz’ lower right
in a beautiful carved and gilt wood frame decorated with palms and flowers

Further information
François Lanfant, who was born in Sierck-les-Bains in 1814 and died in Le Havre in 1892, claimed to be from Metz, a better-known city, which he often mentioned as his origin. A French painter renowned for his genre scenes, particularly those depicting childhood, he began his career in Ary Scheffer's studio.
Between 1843 and 1866, Lanfant exhibited regularly at the Paris Salon, where he stood out for his works depicting children. He captured mischievous moments, whether at home, in schoolyards or in the street, often in the company of animals. These little scenes of life, influenced by the style of Louis Léopold Boilly, were a great success with art lovers, who bought them to embellish their homes.
Thanks to the wide distribution of his work through engraving, Lanfant established himself as a specialist in childhood, transcribing with tenderness and dynamism the carefree, fresh moments of childhood, as illustrated by the work we are presenting here.

The painting humorously depicts an old Grognard - the nickname given to the soldiers of Napoleon Bonaparte's Old Guard - who, engrossed in his passion, seems to be recounting his battle exploits to three young children. The latter, interrupted in their game in which wooden sticks had been transformed into rifles, watch and listen to the old man with curiosity.

Selected bibliography:
Bénézit, Paris, Ernest Gründ Editeur

Notable museum :
Museum of Reims