A. F. Montfallet (1816-1900), Reading, Gentlemen, Oil, Channel Frame, Drolling, Picot

Beautiful, intimate interior scene depicting a reading between two handsome gentlemen by Adolphe François MONTFALLET (1816-1900). A pupil of Michel DROLLING de PICOT and Adolphe YVON, this artist practiced both painting and dance, belonging to the corps de ballet of the Paris Opera and appearing as a painter at the Salon from 1850 to 1882 and then at the Salon des Artistes Français. Here, the young men depicted are dressed in 18th-century fashion, with long jackets, breeches, vests, shirts with lace cuffs, ties and matching silk stockings. Each outfit is sumptuously retranscribed. The foreground, with pipe, bottles and glasses on the table, is elegantly composed, while the background is just sketched in. Beautiful lighting and respect for proportions. This is an oil on wood panel with a label on the reverse showing the panel's title and painter. It is magnificently framed in antique gilded wood with period channels. Dimensions: 44 x 50 cm. Requires light illumination to fully appreciate, or a slight lightening of the varnish.