The Dispatch-Bearer

Giovanni Boldini Italian

Not on view


Boldini made his debut at the Salon of 1879 with this vignette of contemporary urban life. The partially visible inscription of "garde républicaine" on the soldier’s bag indicates that he is delivering correspondence on behalf of the Parisian municipal guard. He has arrived so early that the concierge is still washing the sidewalk; a couple bids a discreet adieu at right. Large spectacles outside an optician’s shop encourage viewers to look closely at the action. One critic found the painting "a bit nonchalant and glittering," but praised its sense of life and rapid motion, concluding, "Boldini is more than a fashion painter."

The Dispatch-Bearer, Giovanni Boldini (Italian, Ferrara 1842–1931 Paris), Oil on wood

This image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

Open Access

As part of the Met's Open Access policy, you can freely copy, modify and distribute this image, even for commercial purposes.

API

Public domain data for this object can also be accessed using the Met's Open Access API.