Easel

1810s

Not on view

Tradition has it that Empress Marie-Louise presented this easel to her painting teacher, the miniaturist Jean-Baptiste Isabey. Constructed from mahogany, it bears the monogram of Napoleon’s last consort near the top. Easels were regularly found in the painter’s studio and often pictured in artists’ self-portraits, such as the Adélaïde Labille-Guiard’s 1785 painting with two pupils, also in the museum’s collection (53.255.5). Less commonly considered as pieces of domestic furniture, this Empire period example suggests that painting was practiced as a pastime among women of elite rank even after the fall of the Old Regime. This easel is similar to a model executed by Jacob Desmalter and owned by Marie-Louise, located today at the Château de Fontainebleau.

Artwork Details

Overview

Signatures, Inscriptions, and Markings

Provenance

Title: Easel
Date: 1810s
Culture: French
Medium: Mahogany, gilt bronze
Dimensions: 78 1/2 × 32 3/4 in. (199.4 × 83.2 cm)
Classification: Woodwork-Furniture
Credit Line: Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Wrightsman, 1972
Object Number: 1972.284.17
Curatorial Department: European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

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