Portrait Of Diane, Profile Of A Young Woman

Léon Bazile Perrault (1832–1908) Portrait of Diana, Profile of a Young Woman. Pencil on paper. Portrait of a young woman in profile, executed with great finesse in pencil by Léon Bazile Perrault, a French painter in the 19th-century academic tradition. Born in Poitiers in 1832, Perrault began his career in 1861 and joined the academic painting movement. After several attempts at the Prix de Rome, he entered the Salon, where he exhibited regularly for over forty years, only being absent on rare occasions. He quickly gained recognition and distinctions there, notably an honorable mention, followed by several awards. His talent was acclaimed both in France and abroad: his works were acquired by the State, and in 1866, Napoleon III purchased one of his canvases, marking a turning point in his career. He also received awards at World's Fairs (bronze medal in 1889, silver medal in 1900) and was awarded the Legion of Honour in 1887. This drawing perfectly illustrates the artist's sensitivity to idealized female figures. The delicate modeling of the face, the purity of the profile line, and the subtlety of the shadows testify to a great mastery of drawing. The whole exudes an impression of softness and grace, characteristic of Perrault's academic aesthetic, somewhere between a studio study and a finished work. Dimensions: 21 x 17 cm Technique: pencil on paper Period: 19th century Condition: very good condition, sold unframed.