Félix Faure and His Grandson
Datec. 1895 - 1899
MediumOil on canvas
DimensionsCanvas: 26 3/8 × 31 inches (67 × 78.7 cm)
Framed: 39 1/2 × 44 × 5 1/8 inches (100.3 × 111.8 × 13 cm)
Credit LineMuseum purchase with funds provided by George J. Baldwin, Alexander R. Lawton, William W. Mackall, and J. Florance Minis.
Object number1907.3.2
CopyrightThe images and text contained on this page are owned by Telfair Museums or used by the Museum with permission from the owners. Unauthorized reproduction, transmission or display of these materials is prohibited with the exception of items deemed “fair use” as defined by U.S. and international copyright laws.Label TextA native of Paris, Alfred Philippe Roll attended the École des Beaux-Arts, where he studied under Henri-Joseph Harpignies and Charles-François Daubigny, both landscape artists with strong connections to the Barbizon school. Roll became a favorite of the French government, which appreciated the “acceptable modernity” of his style. He completed numerous official government portraits, commemorative pictures, and grandiose public murals. He was a Salon juror, as well as a co-founder and president of the Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts. In 1883 he was made a chevalier, and ultimately a commander, of the French Legion of Honor.
After 1888 his style began to reflect the influence of French Impressionism, evidenced by a brighter palette and relaxed brushstrokes. He became fascinated with sunlight, often making preliminary sketches outdoors to capture the light more accurately. This painting, executed at the subject’s home, is a refreshingly informal oil sketch for a portrait of Félix Faure, a President of the French Republic.
