Marcel Antoine Verdier (1817–1856), *portrait Of A Young Man*, 1835, Oil On Canvas, Signed

Marcel Antoine Verdier (1817–1856)
Portrait of a Young Man, 1835
signed and dated on the right
oil on canvas
41.5 x 33.5 cm
in a modern frame: 47 x 39 cm

The young Marcel Antoine Verdier was 18 years old when he painted this portrait in 1835; he had been trained by Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres (1780–1867) and is said to have been one of his best students. This detail is particularly interesting, as the influence of this great painter—who, of course, also excelled in the art of portraiture—is clearly evident. The model’s pose is full of grace and naturalness, and certain details, such as the hand or the clothing, are worthy of this master’s teaching.
Verdier demonstrated an early mastery of the art of painting, particularly portraiture, a field in which he would go on to distinguish himself.

Marcel Antoine Verdier was born on May 20, 1817, in Paris, where he died on August 15, 1856.
He began his art studies in 1831 in the studio of the famous painter Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres (1780–1867). He became one of his best students. He also took classes at the École des Beaux-Arts beginning in 1832. He made his debut with portraits at the 1831 Salon, then turned to history painting and religious subjects. His first history painting was *Cain Meditating on His Crime* (1837), which earned him a gold medal in 1859 and led to the work’s acquisition by the Musée du Luxembourg in Paris. His *Saint Lawrence Led to His Martyrdom* was exhibited at the 1851 World’s Fair.
However, beginning in 1846, he sought other sources of inspiration and successfully turned to genre painting, presenting two works at the 1852 Salon, which were well received; the future Napoleon III acquired one of them.
Without limiting himself to history painting and genre painting, he continued to paint portraits.
After the coup d’état of December 2, 1851, the government commissioned him to paint *La Jacquerie moderne*, a monumental painting that was poorly received by the public at the 1855 World’s Fair. It is said that the grief he felt over this contributed to his death in 1856.

His most famous painting remains *The Four-Post Whipping in the Colonies*, which he exhibited at the 1843 Salon and which is now housed in Houston, at the Menil Collection; this work constitutes a scathing condemnation of slavery.
In addition to Houston, his works are housed in museums in Geneva, Switzerland, as well as in Arras, Bagnères-de-Bigorre, and Montpellier, among others.