Pair Of Interior Scenes – 1839 Attributed To Noël-thomas-joseph Clérian (1796–1842)

A beautiful and charming pair of oil-on-canvas paintings signed CLERIAN, dated 1839, depicting a couple in the intimacy of their home.

The first painting shows an elderly man seated by the fireplace in his study, absorbed in reading the *Journal des Débats*. Around him, Clérian depicts with great precision the world of a bourgeois interior from the first half of the 19th century: a bookshelf lined with books, a desk covered with papers, a quill and inkwell, a bouquet of flowers, and a gilded clock protected beneath its glass dome. The light from the hearth and the profusion of small details lend the scene a particularly intimate atmosphere.

Its companion piece depicts a woman seated at her needlework, dressed in a light-colored dress and a lace headdress. Beside her, a green parrot perched on a chair, a sewing basket filled with fabrics, and a large birdcage enliven the composition. The attention to detail in the furniture, the terracotta floor tiles, and the everyday objects gives this scene of daily life an almost documentary quality.

Both paintings are signed “CLERIAN” in the lower right corner, with the signature very skillfully integrated into the floor tiles.

The reverse sides are also particularly interesting and retain several old handwritten inscriptions directly on the frames. Notably, one of them bears the notation “for Mr. Gautier” followed by the number 7479, as well as another old annotation that is difficult to decipher. On the other, the notation “Made by Clérian 1839” appears very clearly. Other handwritten annotations, likely relating to the figures depicted or the history of the paintings, remain partially legible and warrant further study.

Noël-Thomas-Joseph Clérian, born in Aix-en-Provence in 1796 and died in Avignon in 1842, was notably a student of François-Marius Granet. His work is characterized by a pronounced preference for architecture and intimate interior scenes, of which this pair is a fine example.

Both paintings display a network of old craquelure, clearly visible, as well as marks and signs of wear consistent with their age.

They are presented in their beautiful gilded frames decorated with palmettes, foliage, and relief ornamentation.

Dimensions with frame: 57 × 45 cm each.

France, Louis-Philippe period, 1839.

Pair sold together and cannot be separated.