Paul Mathey - Portrait Of Brother Joseph Of The Congregation Of The Brothers Of The Christian Schools

Paul MATHEY Paris, 1844 – Paris, 1929 Portrait of Brother Joseph, Superior General of the Congregation of the Brothers of the Christian Schools Oil on canvas laid down on panel 29 x 23 cm (39 x 34 cm with frame) Titled and dated on the back “Portrait of Father Joseph / circa 1895” Good condition Beautiful 19th-century giltwood frame This is the portrait of the “Most Honored Brother Joseph” (title of the biography of Brother Joseph published in 1898 by Jean Laur). Brother Joseph is a historical figure of the Congregation of the Brothers of the Christian Schools (or Lasalians). He was the thirteenth Superior General of the congregation from 1884 to 1897. This portrait is a fine study for a large and beautiful portrait painted by Paul Mathey, which he exhibited at the Paris Salon in 1895 (number 1335, "Portrait of the Most Honored Brother Joseph"). It was also engraved (reproduced in Estampes, Paris, 2000, by P. Sanchez and X. Seydoux). Paul Mathey was a French painter who worked and exhibited in Paris. A student of Léon Cogniet and Isidore Pils, he is best known for his portraits of celebrities of his time. Our portrait comes directly from the artist's family.