Robert Cavelier Sieur De La Salle

Art Historical Context

This evocative portrait drawing by Jacques Reich captures Robert Cavelier,ur de La Salle, intrepid 17th-century French explorer traversed North America, descending the Mississippi River to claim the vast Louisiana Territory for France in 1682. Created around 1899-1920, the work reflects Reich's skill as a meticulous draftsman and portraitist, whose career bridged 19th- and 20th-century American art scenes. La Salle's image—adorned with a powdered wig and distinctive mustache—evokes the grandeur of Baroque-era nobility, immortalizing a figure whose expeditions laid early foundations for French ...