Nicolas Benjamin Delapierre
Encyclopedia
Nicolas Benjamin Delapierre (ca. 1739 – 24 January 1802) was a well-known and highly regarded French
artist during the second half of the 18th century.
—for many intervening years Delapierre painted in Russia. He was active in Moscow (1767), and later in St. Petersburg (beginning in 1768), where he taught at the Imperial Academy of Arts
and painted portraits of family members of Petr Borisovich Sheremetev—one of the wealthiest men in the world at the time.
In 1770 he achieved the title of “agree” at the Academy for a portrait of Catherine II
, and also became “royal painter”—executing portraits of the principal members of the imperial family.
By 1786 Delapierre had returned to France and was well established in
Lyon, where he exhibited four of his portraits at the “Salon des Arts”
of Lyon (25 August 1786 – 11 September 1786). Earlier, he might have
attended the month-long “Salon de 1785” biennial art exposition in
Paris that began on 25 August 1785, because this event was enormously
popular among artists and art enthusiasts and attracted people from
all over Europe.
, is the subject of some mystery. The well-executed portrait, dated 1785, shows an 18th-century gentleman sitting at a desk and beginning to write on a single sheet of paper. On the desk in the foreground is a copy of De la Caisse d'Escompte, a financial pamphlet published on 17 May 1785 by the famous French orator and statesman Mirabeau
.
This portrait is particularly intriguing because it was painted several years before Mirabeau achieved prominence, and because the conspicuous financial pamphlet ultimately had important repercussions leading up to the French Revolution
. It is believed by some to be the earliest known portrait of Thomas Jefferson
.
The ownership of the portrait prior to 1928 is unknown, as is the identity of the sitter. Both are being researched by Omnis, Inc.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
artist during the second half of the 18th century.
Career
Although he began and ended his painting career in France—he was a student of Carle van Loo and Jean-Baptiste-Siméon ChardinJean-Baptiste-Siméon Chardin
Jean-Baptiste-Siméon Chardin was an 18th-century French painter. He is considered a master of still life, and is also noted for his genre paintings which depict kitchen maids, children, and domestic activities...
—for many intervening years Delapierre painted in Russia. He was active in Moscow (1767), and later in St. Petersburg (beginning in 1768), where he taught at the Imperial Academy of Arts
Imperial Academy of Arts
The Russian Academy of Arts, informally known as the St. Petersburg Academy of Arts, was founded in 1757 by Ivan Shuvalov under the name Academy of the Three Noblest Arts. Catherine the Great renamed it the Imperial Academy of Arts and commissioned a new building, completed 25 years later in 1789...
and painted portraits of family members of Petr Borisovich Sheremetev—one of the wealthiest men in the world at the time.
In 1770 he achieved the title of “agree” at the Academy for a portrait of Catherine II
Catherine II of Russia
Catherine II, also known as Catherine the Great , Empress of Russia, was born in Stettin, Pomerania, Prussia on as Sophie Friederike Auguste von Anhalt-Zerbst-Dornburg...
, and also became “royal painter”—executing portraits of the principal members of the imperial family.
By 1786 Delapierre had returned to France and was well established in
Lyon, where he exhibited four of his portraits at the “Salon des Arts”
of Lyon (25 August 1786 – 11 September 1786). Earlier, he might have
attended the month-long “Salon de 1785” biennial art exposition in
Paris that began on 25 August 1785, because this event was enormously
popular among artists and art enthusiasts and attracted people from
all over Europe.
Mystery
One of his paintings, Portrait of a Seated GentlemanPortrait of a Seated Gentleman
Portrait of a Seated Gentleman is a portrait painted by Nicolas Benjamin Delapierre in 1785. Neither the subject nor the provenance before 1928 are known.-Description:...
, is the subject of some mystery. The well-executed portrait, dated 1785, shows an 18th-century gentleman sitting at a desk and beginning to write on a single sheet of paper. On the desk in the foreground is a copy of De la Caisse d'Escompte, a financial pamphlet published on 17 May 1785 by the famous French orator and statesman Mirabeau
Honoré Gabriel Riqueti, comte de Mirabeau
Honoré Gabriel Riqueti, comte de Mirabeau was a French revolutionary, as well as a writer, diplomat, freemason, journalist and French politician at the same time. He was a popular orator and statesman. During the French Revolution, he was a moderate, favoring a constitutional monarchy built on...
.
This portrait is particularly intriguing because it was painted several years before Mirabeau achieved prominence, and because the conspicuous financial pamphlet ultimately had important repercussions leading up to the French Revolution
French Revolution
The French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...
. It is believed by some to be the earliest known portrait of Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson was the principal author of the United States Declaration of Independence and the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom , the third President of the United States and founder of the University of Virginia...
.
The ownership of the portrait prior to 1928 is unknown, as is the identity of the sitter. Both are being researched by Omnis, Inc.
Omnis, Inc.
Omnis, Inc. is a technical and scientific consulting and training firm. It also has a concentration in market intelligence and the emerging field of threat finance. It was founded in 2004 and has clients in government, academia and private industry....
Selected paintings
- A Mother Feeding Her Child, 1782
- Portrait of a Seated GentlemanPortrait of a Seated GentlemanPortrait of a Seated Gentleman is a portrait painted by Nicolas Benjamin Delapierre in 1785. Neither the subject nor the provenance before 1928 are known.-Description:...
, 1785 - La Fileuse, 1797