On a Terrace

oil on wood panelErnest Meissonier (French, 1815–1891)/1867

Description

Trained as a printmaker and book illustrator, Meissonier specialized in small paintings depicting scenes from French history and literature. This painting on wood panel depicts a man dressed like a character from The Three Musketeers (published in 1844) by Alexandre Dumas père. Such paintings, admired for their technical virtuosity and romantic subjects, were immensely popular. Meissonier also painted contemporary military subjects and themes and became an arch-foe of the Realist painter Gustave Courbet.

Provenance

Ernest Secrétan [1836-1899], Paris, France; (Georges Petit Gallery, Paris, France, March 15, 1908, sold to to F. F. van der Doucht, Brussels, Belgium, according to Knoedler sale book no. 7, p. 270, 15 March 1908).; (E. Le Roy & Co., by 1893, according to exh. cat., Georges Petit, 1893).; (Le Roy consigned it to Knoedler & Co., Paris, France, stock no. 8878a.); (Knoedler & Co., New York, NY, March 15, 1899, sold to Samuel L. Bronson); Samuel L. Bronson [1834-1917] New Haven, CT; (Bought back by Knoedler, 8 May 1901 (stock number 9444) and sold 10 March 1908 to Thomas Henry Burchell); Thomas Henry Burchell [-1942] New York, NY, sold it back to Knoedler, November 3, 1910 (stock number 12199).; (Knoedler Gallery, New York, NY, April 15, 1911, sold to Frederick Gehring); Clara Louise Gehring Bickford [1903-1985] Cleveland, OH, by bequest to the Cleveland Museum of Art; The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH

Dimensions

30.2 × 20 cm

Source

The Cleveland Museum of Art

Movement / Period

Modern European Painting and Sculpture

Accession No

1986.68

Official Citations

[The Cleveland Museum of Art Official Record][Full Resolution Image]

Curatorial Affinity Stream

Continuing the Universe of Ernest Meissonier (French, 1815–1891)

Modern European Painting and Sculpture • France, 19th century • Harmonious Works & Contemporaries

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