Jean Victor Schnetz 1787–1870, Dedicated To His Friend Jean Alaux 1786–1864, Sketch

Discovery of a little Napoleonic gem—“probably a study for a painting executed in gouache, brown wash, and pencil,” sketched on white paper, of a general of Napoleon’s Imperial Guard”—historically interesting because it is dedicated to his friend, the painter Jean Alaux, known as “le Romain” (1786 –1864), and the artist was a close friend of Théodore Géricault, whose style is evident here; the artist is Jean Victor Schnetz, born April 14, 1787, in Versailles and died March 15, 1870, in Paris, a painter, watercolorist, pastel artist, and engraver. Condition: in its original state, with a small tear in the center; comparable to a sketch sold at Christie’s NY in the late 1990s. ** Short Biography: A friend of Théodore Géricault, Jean Victor Schnetz divided his time between France and Italy, which he had discovered in his youth and with which he had fallen in love. He had a brilliant career: elected to the Academy of Fine Arts in 1837, he was appointed in 1841 to succeed Ingres as director of the French Academy in Rome, a position he held until 1846. He returned to the post a second time between 1853 and 1866, when he was succeeded by Joseph-Nicolas

Condition: in its original state * tear at the top center—see photo
Dimensions: 21 cm x 23 cm for the artwork. 
** I am not a specialist in drawing, but this is a real find for collectors of works related to Napoleon Bonaparte’s campaigns.
Provenance: former Drôme collection
* Never previously offered at public auction