Oberst Félix Massue
1867
Ernest Meissonier, famous for his painstakingly detailed and tiny military scenes, takes a slightly looser approach in this affectionate portrait of Colonel Félix Massue. Painted in 1867, the work captures the Colonel's weathered face, distinctive handlebar mustache, and goatee with a warm, almost sketch-like quality that contrasts with Meissonier's usual hyper-realism. The inscription in the corner, 'souvenir affectueux' (affectionate memory), hints at a close friendship between the artist and the military man. It's a rare glimpse into the personal side of a painter who usually preferred the grand stage of Napoleonic history.
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