Description/    

Portrait of a man

Oil on canvas. Unknown origin.

Signed and dated bottom left: « Ch. Chaplin 1887 »

This large portrait of a man is signed and dated bottom left: « Ch. Chaplin 1887 ». The elderly gentleman has an aristocratic air. He is dressed in a black suit, which blends into the dark background, blurring the edges, giving a mysterious quality to the painting. Only his white shirt and pink complexion contrast with the dominant dark tones. He wears a black cravat, as was customary in the mid 19th century, as were black suits after the 1850’s. The bust is presented in a slightly three-quarter view, avoiding too much rigidity. Like Napoleon III, he stands with his right hand slipped into his waistcoat, less by mimicry of his leader than because he is well mannered. Indeed in Father de la Salle's book of manners, a man’s posture was strictly defined: “It is a mistake to cross your arms or hold them behind the back, to let them hang with nonchalance, to swing them as you walk (…); it is proper to walk with a cane in hand, the other arm placed against the body, (…); it is the custom to place one’s right arm on the chest or belly, slipping the hand through the jacket.” This gentleman seems the very symbol of refined elegance for the 19th century.

CHARLES JOSHUA CHAPLIN  (June 8, 1825 – January 30, 1891)

Charles Chaplin was born in Andelys on June 8th, 1825, from an English father and a Norman mother. At age 14, in 1839, Charles began studying in Michel-Martin Drölling’s studio in Paris, then in 1840 he entered the Beaux Arts where he received many awards. He began by travelling through Auvergne, Brittany and Normandy painting landscapes, and met Antoine Leleux. His first entry to the Salon was in 1845, a portrait of his sister, and he regularly sent paintings there until 1889. While still a student, Marie Duplessis, the famous “Dame aux Camélias”, commissioned a portrait. His portraits were much appreciated and won him a 3rd class prize in the Salon of 1851 and a 2nd class one in 1852. At this time, he became a popular portraitist especially of women, and was known by his contemporaries as a “Painter of Ladies”. His style is very influenced by the 18th century painters Boucher and Greuze. His palette was mainly tones of grey, pink and white, rarely dark colors, which makes this portrait an exception.

Chaplin was also an official decorative painter for the Second Empire and the imperial couple, painting ceilings and walls for the Tuileries Palace, the Elysées Palace and many private homes in France, Europe and New York. His work was much reproduced in his time, used for lithography, boxes, screens, fans or even matchboxes.