The officer is painted in a large bust, almost on a real scale. Slightly at an angle in military dress, he wears his sword on one side and his hat with arms on the other.
The work is admirable and incredibly realistic signed lower left '' C. of. Balthasar. 1841 ''.
BALTHASAR (Casimir-Victor-Alexandre de, Count of Gachéo) Born at Château d'Hayange (Moselle), November 4, 1811 and died February 8, 1875. French painter, he belonged to a family of Hungarian origin of illustrious nobility which in the last century was allied with the great families of Lorraine.
All the men in his family practiced what was called the art of war except him. Casimir de Balthasar, Count of Gacheo, preferred to serve France with his historical and religious paintings or portraits of contemporaries such as the De Wendel family of which he is a member.
Reference:
https://www.republicain-lorrain.fr/actualite/2011/11/01/casimir-de-balthasar-celebre-a-hayange
Reference: sales catalog of his estate at the Drouot hotel on Saturday April 10 1875: Although Casimir de Balthasar was born of one of the great families of Lorraine; although the services rendered by his father to the country assured him a brilliant future in the world of the courses, he gave himself entirely to his passionate taste for the arts. He came to Paris in 1827 and Paul Delaroche was the teacher he chose. His progress was all the more rapid since, having been intimately linked with Ary Scheffer, the good principles of the master and the advice of his friend enabled him to begin at the Salon of 1833 with a distinguished work: Herodias receiving the head of saint Jeans. From then on, each year, new productions no less noticed in our exhibitions ranked M. de Balthasar among the painters of undisputed merit. In 1837 he received the third medal; in 1838, the second and in 1840, the first class gold medal which his painting by Philippe de Valois deserved after the battle of Crécy. At that time, M. de Balthasar's attachment to the cause of M. le Duc de Chambord having caused him some trouble, he agreed to restore the stained-glass windows of the famous Toul cathedral. He continued for ten years this great work to the applause of all the friends of the arts ... He also produced, in addition to beautiful portraits, various important paintings which appeared honorably in our exhibitions of 1855, 1859, etc., etc. Finally, this eminent artist not only as a painter, but also by his loyal character, his lofty ideas, his devotion to the unfortunate, received, in 1869, the cross of the Legion of Honor.
HORSIN DEON.
Oil on its original canvas restored in good condition stamped on the back '' A. OTTOZ student of Mr Belot rue de la Michodière n ° 2 in PARIS '':
82 x 100.5 cm
Restored gilded wood frame, in good condition:
99 x 127.5 cm