ARY SCHEFFER, PORTRAIT OF HORACE VERNET

ARY SCHEFFER PORTRAIT OF HORACE VERNET ARY SCHEFFER Dordrecht 1795 – 1858 Argenteuil Lithograph on paper Signed in the stone: “M. Alophe d’après H. Scheffer” Printed below: “Imp. Lith. de Cattier”, “HORACE VERNET”, “New York, publish’d by Goupil, Vibert & Co. 289, Broadway”, “Paris, Goupil, Vibert & Cie éditeurs”, “London, publish’d by E. Gambart & Co. 25, Berners St. Oxf. St.” 35 × 23 cm (image and inscriptions) 45 × 32.5 cm (sheet; with a missing piece at the upper right corner) Private collection, Vienna A FRENCH MASTER IN LITHOGRAPHY: ARY SCHEFFER This refined lithographic portrait of Horace Vernet, one of the most well-known French painters of the July Monarchy, reflects the sophisticated sensibility of Ary Scheffer (1795–1858), whose original drawing served as a model for this print, engraved by M. Alophe and printed by the celebrated lithographer Cattier. Born in Dordrecht to a family of painters, Scheffer became a central figure in French Romanticism. After studying in Paris, influenced by Géricault and Delacroix, he developed a style that combined romantic sentiment with classical clarity. In addition to his famous literary and historical subjects, Scheffer was also highly regarded as a portraitist. His sitters included Frédéric Chopin, Franz Liszt, La Fayette, Charles Dickens, Duchess Dorothée de Talleyrand-Périgord, and Queen Maria Amalia of Bourbon. Scheffer was particularly beloved by the elite of Polish emigrants in Paris. His deep friendship with Zygmunt Krasiński, one of Poland's “Three Bards,” led to several portraits of Krasiński's wife, Eliza Branicka, and his muse Delfina Potocka. His portrait of Chopin remains one of the most iconic images of the composer. Scheffer's engagement with the Polish community also extended to lithography — a medium he appreciated for its accessibility and reproducibility. Many lithographic portraits of Polish subjects derive from his original drawings, including those of the Potocki and Krasiński families. This print, produced and distributed by the renowned publishing house Goupil, Vibert & Cie in Paris, New York, and London, testifies to Scheffer's international fame as an artist and portraitist. The portrayed figure, Horace Vernet (1789–1863), also a famous painter who specialized in military and historical scenes, is depicted here with a decisive pose and sharp features, interpreted with rigor and measure — qualities typical of Scheffer's portrait style. Although printed in multiple cities, the lithograph was clearly intended for a cosmopolitan audience, sensitive to the cultural ferments of Romantic Europe.