Hb. Adam (1808-1853) Child In A Neo-gothic Interior

Beautiful romantic-style genre scene depicting a child leaning over a heraldic book looking at two swords on the floor. The book is based on other works arranged on a richly carved chest, covered with a brilliant gold, purple and green fabric. Behind him, a Louis XIII armchair decorated with a tapestry in the same tones is in front of a painting of a bearded man, recalling the saintly figures of Pierre-Paul RUBENS or Francesco FRACANZANO. A large dish in blue and white from China or Japan and an Imari porcelain vase find a place in front of a large Renaissance buffet from which a precious ewer seems to have been taken out at the moment. Walls entirely lined with Cordovan leathers and a large, casually draped, purple wall hanging complete the luxury impression that the painter wanted to give to this interior in the spirit of the Renaissance.

The painting take place in a luxurious stuccoed and gilded wood frame (L. 86.4 x H. 72.4 cm).


Pupil of LANGLOIS, then of the great master of the historical painting Paul DELAROCHE, Hippolyte-Benjamin ADAM began at the Salon of 1833 with Les Reïtres(chroniquesde 1572) and portraits. Then came Les Chartreux en prière, then Marché au poisson à Marseille (Salon 1834). He exhibited for the last time in 1841 with La Récréation and portraits. Hippolyte Adam had taken rank among the romantic painters and the documentary precision of the details of his genre scenes is noticed. It is even said that "the atmosphere of its dark streets and overcrowded markets was quite disturbing and was reminiscent of the novels of Zola or Eugene Sue". He devoted the last years of his life to decorative work.


MUSEUMS AND PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS :

• Paris, Carnavalet Museum -L'Hôpital Saint-Louis et les Buttes-Chaumont (1830)
• Le Bastit, Saint-Blaise Church - L'Adoration des Mages (public commission, 1847)
• Mairiac, Mairie - Portrait of the King Louis-Philippe (purchase by commission to the artist, 1842).

BIBLIOGRAPHY :

• E. BENEZIT - Dictionnaire critique et documentaire des peintres, sculpteurs et graveurs - Gründ - 1999.
• Gérald SCHURR - Les Petits Maîtres de la peinture 1820-1920, T. VI - Éditions de l'Amateur - 1989.