Casimir le Conte, after Boulanger

Art Historical Context

Behold *Casimir le Conte, afteranger* (1856), a striking etching by master printmaker Charles Meryon based on a work by painter Gustave Boulanger. This portrait captures the likeness of Casimir le Conte a figure from mid-19th-century France, rendered with Meryon's renowned precision. Acquired through the Rogers Fund in 1919, it resides in the Metropolitan Museum of's Drawings and Prints department, exemplifying the era's fascination with detailed reproductive prints. Meryon, a pioneer of 19th-century etching often linked to Realism and later Symbolism, transformed Boulanger's Academic-style original into a richly textured plate on laid paper—measuring 13 7/8 x 10 1/16 inches. Etching allowed for intricate lines and subtle tonal gradations, mimicking painting's depth while enabling widespread dissemination. Boulanger, known for Orientalist and historical scenes, provided the compositional foundation, highlighting the collaborative spirit between painters and printmakers. This work underscores etching's role in democratizing portraiture during France's Second Empire, bridging fine art and popular imagery. Meryon's technical virtuosity—evident in his atmospheric cityscapes like *Eaux-fortes sur Paris*—shines here, offering visitors a window into a refined era of portrait honors.

About the Artist

Charles Meryon|Gustave Boulanger · 1821–1868

Charles Meryon, born on November 23, 1821, in Paris, was the illegitimate son of English physician Dr. Charles Lewis Meryon and dancer Pierre-Narcisse Chaspoux (stage name Narcisse Gentil) at the Paris Opéra. His half-sister Fanny, from his mother's prior relationship with Viscount Lowther, remained in contact after their mother's death in 1838. Raised partly outside Paris before attending Pension...