Author's Gazes: Portraits and Life Tales from the 16th to the 19th Century | Paris

The idea for this exhibition came from the long, and sometimes complex and not always successful, research process that lies behind the study of a portrait.

In our daily task of research, we usually focus on identifying the person who created the work, but when it comes to portraits, it is essential for us, as much as exciting, to go further and try to identify the sitter, in order to get to know about his/her story and better understand the work creation too.

Often these paintings were made to remain within the family, as an ante litteram souvenir photo, they were private productions meant to be shared by a familiar circle of individuals, but time, alas! it is known, dulls the memories, erases the memories and the tracing of an oral heritage slowly vanishes like a noise in the air until it reaches oblivion.

Our survey work consists of unveiling the curtain of mystery that time has spread over these faces.

As in cracking a riddle, a detail, an element placed as a complement to the portrait, the clothing style, an inscription all become elements that can often run to a clue, and lead to an identity. It is a compelling challenge that lets us look into the lives and tales of people looking back to us from another dimension, from a different time.

Who then is hiding behind the enigmatic violinist, with long fingers and a whitened violin bleached by the dust of disproportionately played chords?

Who then is hiding behind the enigmatic violinist, with long fingers and a whitened violin bleached by the dust of disproportionately played chords?

Who are the two French grooms?

And what is the majestic cardinal's story?

To find out and to discover through which paths we came to solve these enigmas, come to visit us or go to the Viewing Rooms section at the foot of the home page.

PARIS

9-26 NOVEMBER 2022

Opening hours:

Monday-Friday 11/13 - 14/18.30 (Saturday by appointment)

Hôtel Jean Bart | Claude Passart

2, rue Chapon - 75003 - Paris (France)

To keep in touch:

Tel. + 33 (0)6 22 54 51 89 info@maurizionobile.com