Pierre Eugène Lacoste (1818–1908) Portrait Of An Officer – 1856

Large portrait of a young officer in uniform, by Pierre Eugène Lacoste, French painter and portraitist, student of Léon Cogniet and regular exhibitor at the Salon in the 19th century. The work is signed and dated lower left "Lacoste 1856". Technique: watercolor on paper with pastel highlights, offering a delicate rendering of the face and details of the uniform. Presentation: oval view (93 × 77 cm), under glass, in a large period wooden frame (107 × 91 cm). We can see the officer holding gloves and a letter, with a bicorne and books on the table, emphasizing the solemnity and nobility of the subject. Condition: a horizontal crack in the paper runs through the portrait (visible in the photos), requiring professional restoration. The old metal back is torn, but the whole remains solid. The work is heavy and fragile, so specialized transport is recommended. For this, please contact me? A refined ceremonial portrait, a testament to official taste under the Second Empire.