Jacques Joseph Leopold Loustau (French, 1815-1894). "Colonel Carolus Mallet (1798-1877)" oil on canvas, 1847. Signed and dated "L. Loustau 1847" at lower left and titled on verso. A fine 19th century French portrait of Colonel Carolus Mallet by Jacques Joseph Leopold Loustau mounted in an opulent gilt wood oval period frame. Mallet stands facing the viewer while leaning upon the hilt of his sword. He proudly wears his highly decorated military uniform with a white glove on his left hand; the glove on his right hand has been removed as has his elaborately plumed hat displayed upon the stone wall to his right. Mallet gazes directly at the viewer with penetrating blue eyes, an aquiline nose, a horseshoe mustache with a stylized goatee, and neatly coiffed brown hair. Loustau has rendered Mallet's visage and regalia with the utmost realism and attention to detail that contrasts with the modulated colors of the background which create the illusion of depth (aerial or atmospheric perspective) in the receding landscape. An outstanding 19th century French portrait by Jacques Joseph Leopold Loustau framed in an elegant and extensively decorated oval giltwood frame prototypical of the period culminating in lovely clusters of berry vine motifs. Size: 25" L x 19" W (63.5 cm x 48.3 cm)

Please Note: Both the gilding on the frame and the pigments of the painting were tested via x-ray fluorescence. Gilding contains 6.9% to 18.13% gold. Pigments are consistent with the period.

Artist Biography: "Born on May 26, 1815 in Sarrelouis, a French town in Lorraine which was ceded to Prussia on November 20, 1815 following Napoleon's defeat at Waterloo. Leopold Loustau was deaf-mute from childhood, the son of a general steward of the Napoleonic army and the heir to a great industrialist in Lorraine metallurgy. He studied at the Institution for the Deaf-Mute in Nancy at the age of 14 in 1829 and remained until 1831. Leopold Loustau will be one of the first pupils of the Nancy institute created by Joseph Piroux, an educator and a pioneer in the education of the deaf. Very young, Leopold was gifted in drawing and painting. His parents, especially his mother, will encourage him in this way because it is also good way for him to express himself. He studied at the National School of Fine Arts under his teachers Louis Hersent and Leon Cogniet. Leon Cogniet gave advice on paintings but Leopold refused to obtain these benefits for his own, Leopold convinces him to teach painting to other deaf people at the National Institute for Deaf Youth and the master accepted. Among the deaf students, a promising painter was Frederic Peyson. Leopold made his first exhibition at the Salon of 1838 followed by many others because he is a recognized and appreciated painter. He painted mostly portraits but also landscapes, and produced many paintings and exhibited regularly at the Salon until his death. Several paintings are purchased by the State. He fought for the cause of the deaf and there are several archives on him in the historical library of the INJS. On June 4, 1894, he died of a stroke while painting at his studio. 'It was while working that he suffered from a stroke. Death must have been instantaneous, for we found him at half past three, in his armchair, in the position of a reclining person, his artist's palette dropped to the right and his brushes in front of him' written by Henry Leguay, son-in-law and mayor of Chevreuse at that time. Written by his ancestor is a wonderful biography on the artist that also details the history of the deaf-mute in France. Titled: 'L' oeil ecoute: Biographie de Leopold Loustau ; Artiste-Peintre sourd-muet (1815-1894)' by Jean-Pierre Leguay." (The Antique Boutique website)

On the verso of the painting is a Denenberg Fine Arts label which provides the following artist biography: "Lousteau was born deaf-mute in 1815 in the town of Sarrelouis. He studied with Jules Cogniet, and his first submission to the Salon was in 1842 where he showed regularly until his death. He was known as a genre painter, history painter, and portraitist. His work hangs in public buildings in Paris including The Ministry of the Interior." (Denenberg Fine Arts, Inc. label on verso)

Provenance: Ex-Denenberg Fine Arts, Los Angeles, California USA; ex-Suzanne Strid of San Francisco, California USA

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#178957

Painting shows a few scuffs/areas of wear and surface craquelure commensurate with age. Signed and dated "L. Loustau 1847" at lower left (on stone wall in painting). Frame presents with cracks/losses/wear commensurate with age. Denenberg Fine Arts labels on verso indicate painting is also titled on the verso; upper Denenberg label also provides a nice artist biography and information pertaining to identification of the painting as well as provenance. The gilding on the frame and pigments of the painting were tested via x-ray fluorescence. Gilding contains 6.9% to 18.13% gold. Pigments are consistent with the period. Fit with suspension wire.