François-louis Lanfant De Metz, Children Playing Music, Oil On Wood, 19th Century

Small oil painting on panel depicting two children playing musical instruments, one an accordion and the other a bagpipe, in a country landscape.

Signed "Lanfant" in the lower right corner.

François-Louis Lanfant de Metz (1814-1892) was a history and genre painter from Moselle. As an adolescent, he drew compositions for wallpaper dealers in Paris before joining Ary Scheffer's studio. In 1842, he accompanied naturalist Louis Agassiz as a draftsman in Switzerland and Italy, but eventually left to join a troupe of travelling actors. Returning to Paris the following year, he opened his studio on Boulevard des Italiens and exhibited regularly at the Salon until 1866. In 1868, while staying in Trouville with Gustave Courbet, he renewed acquaintances with old comedian friends and finally decided to stay in Normandy, settling in Le Havre. He also changed his iconographic register, abandoning history painting in favor of small genre paintings of children. These works, tinged with playfulness and insouciance, would be widely disseminated through iconography.

Lightly chipped paint in the lower left corner.
Small accidents and gaps between the rods at frame level.
Good overall condition.
From the 19th century.

Dimensions:
Framed: 30.5 x 26.5 cm
Sighted: 14.5 x 10.5 cm