David-eugène Girin (1848-1917), The Tragedians In Louis XIII Costume

Oil on canvas. 48 x 36 cm. Signed lower right.

This painting by David Girin depicts two men in arefined 17th-century interior. One stands in a theatrical pose, dressed in an elegant period costume adorned with yellow ribbons and a large feathered hat,holding a rapier-a symbol of nobility and bravery. The other, seated, plays the lute, evoking the gentleness of music and the cultivated atmosphere of aristocratic salons. Around them, precious objects-a suit of armor’s helmet, a porcelain vase, and an embroidered table cloth-highlight the artist’s attention to detail and material wealth.

The work illustrates Girin’s taste for genre painting, characterized by precise drawing and a keen sense of realism in textures, especially silk and metal. The balanced, luminous composition emphasizes the theatricality of the scene while paying homage to the art of living and the elegance of the Ancien Régime.

David-Eugène Girin entered the École des Beaux-Arts in Lyon in 1864 and immediately joined Joseph Guichard’s class. He exhibited genre scenes at the Salon and also painted still lifes, notably of flowers. In 1887, with the painting Le Matin, a definitive change occurred: the artist, previously known for his genre paintings, henceforth devoted himself exclusively to landscapes and outdoor scenes. His financial stability allowed him to travel throughout France, providing him with a wide variety of subjects to explore. David Girin also renewed both his palette and his technique. He combined powerful, understated drawing with a palette composed of light earthtones and tinted whites.