Oil on canvas
19th century
Dim: 82 x 71 cm
Dim Monsieur: 60 x 48 cm
Dim Madame: 58 x 47 cm
In the 19th century, paired portraits depicting couples were very popular in Europe, especially in France, England, and Germany. These works immortalized marital bonds within a formal setting, highlighting the social status, wealth, and respectability of the subjects. Painters often portrayed the two individuals side by side, sometimes in subtle interaction or in a symmetrical arrangement, paying great attention to details in clothing and symbolic objects such as jewelry or flowers. These portraits were frequently commissioned to celebrate a wedding, anniversary, or important family event. Styles ranged from realism to romanticism, with a constant focus on faithfully capturing the features and personality of the sitters. Notable artists in this genre include Franz Xaver Winterhalter, renowned for his portraits of European high society, as well as Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres and Alexandre Cabanel in France. These paired portraits remain valuable testimonies of 19th-century society and customs today.