Luc-olivier Merson (1846-1920), Studie For "the Sacrifice To The Fatherland", Salon 1875

Luc-Olivier Merson (1846-1920), born in Paris and Grand Prix de Rome in 1869, he received many official commissions and could be considered an academic painter. He is, in fact, an extremely original artist who did not hesitate to deal with surprising subjects.
Merson is confused by some of his rare and original iconographic choices, as the beautiful exhibition, The Strange Monsieur Merson, which was dedicated to him at the Musée des Beaux-Arts in Rennes in 2008-2009 had shown.
An excellent designer, this artist also has a career as an illustrator. Several paintings and many drawings by him are kept at the Musée d'Orsay in Paris.

Studies of drapery for "The sacrifice to the Fatherland", presented at the Salon of 1875 (disappeared table, known by the engraving, see attached photo) Graphite on white paper.
A small freckle appears on the drawing which bears lower left the inscription in pen: sacrifice to the fatherland.

Another black chalk and white chalk drape study on blue paper is for sale on the site.