A Charming Portrait From The Restoration Period Showing A Young And Wise Schoolboy Wearing The Order Of The Lily.

A charming portrait from the Restoration period depicting a young and studious schoolboy wearing the Order of the Lily. Oil on paper mounted on canvas, presented in a modern fluted frame. The Lily decoration was awarded to members of the Paris National Guard—officers, non-commissioned officers, grenadiers, or chasseurs—who had demonstrated exemplary service. The awarding of the Lily decoration was later extended to all National Guardsmen in France, then to officials of various administrations, prominent citizens, members of parliament, senior officers and generals, and so on. Finally, deserving high school students were also awarded the Lily decoration at the 1813-1814 academic year awards ceremony, as was Honoré de Balzac, a third-year student at the Tours high school, who received it on September 5, 1814. Dimensions with frame: 74.5 cm x 63.5 cm. Painting only: 62 cm x 48 cm