Portret van Jacques-Antoine Manuel

About this artwork

blad: hoogte 351 mm x breedte 259 mm

Art Historical Context

**Portret van Jacques-Antoine Manuel** is a striking 1823 lithograph by Alfred Delorie, measuring 351 mm high by 259 mm wide. This portrait captures Jacques-Antoine Manuel, prominent French neoclassical painter known for his elegant portraits and historical scenes during the Napoleonic era and Bourbon Restoration. Delorieux a skilled early lithographer, renders Manuel with the precision and tonal subtlety characteristic of this innovative medium, which had only been invented about 25 years earlier. ography revolutionized printmaking in the early 19th century by allowing artists to draw directly on limestone slabs with greasy crayon, producing multiples that were affordable and detailed. Unlike engravings, it preserved the fluidity of the artist's hand, making portraits like this one accessible to a broader audience beyond elite collectors. Created just five years after Manuel's death in 1827—wait, no, Manuel died in 1827, so 1823 is during his lifetime—this work likely served as a commemorative or promotional image, reflecting the era's fascination with capturing luminaries in reproducible form. Today, this piece highlights lithography's role in democratizing art during France's post-Revolutionary cultural shifts, bridging fine art and popular dissemination. Visitors will appreciate its technical finesse and glimpse into 19th-century artistic circles. (198 words)