Portrait of a Young Student Holding a Letter (Consulate Period)
This remarkable Neoclassical portrait depicts a young man in a three-quarter view, turned toward the viewer with a keen, confident gaze. He wears a midnight-blue uniform jacket or coat with metal buttons, accented by a high, stiffened white collar and turned-back cuffs—details typical of men’s fashion in the very early 19th century. Tucked under his right arm, he holds several large volumes, signaling his status as a student, young clerk, or secretary.
The central element—and one of great documentary interest—is the letter he holds delicately in his left hand.
The inscription appears to read “À Monsieur / Marquet…” (“To Monsieur Marquet…”), a traditional pictorial detail serving to identify the patron or the intended recipient of the role symbolized by the young man.
The work captivates through the restraint of its composition against a dark background, the attention paid to anatomical detail, and the precision of the draftsmanship characteristic of the school of Jacques-Louis David.
Oil on canvas
France
Circa 1800–1805
Dimensions:
With frame: 70 cm x 58 cm
Without frame: 60 cm x 51 cm
