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Adolphe Bonny (1849-1933) Portrait of a schoolboy
Oil on can…
See original version (French)
33
-
Adolphe Bonny (1849-1933) Portrait of a schoolboy
Oil on can…
See original version (French)
Estimate €1,000 - €1,500
Voluntary lot
Description
Adolphe Bonny (1849-1933)
Portrait of a schoolboy
Oil on canvas
61 x 40.5 cm
signed and dated 1884 top right
Adolphe Bonny (1849-1933) painted this fine portrait of a schoolboy in 1884.
Born in Bédarieux in 1849, Adolphe Bonny arrived in Toulon in 1855 where he trained in the studio of Pierre Letuaire (1798-1885). His master noticed his artistic abilities and appointed him as a primary school drawing teacher to succeed him when he retired. It was following this appointment that, in 1874, Adolphe Bonny founded the Atelier des Beaux-Arts de Toulon (later to become the Grandjean School of Drawing), which offered free courses and met with great success. He trained a number of local artists and contributed to the development of the Toulon school. Bonny is particularly famous for his decor paintings in the Campra foyer at the Toulon Opera, which depict the festive scenes of his native Provence with accuracy and amusement.
This young man is wearing a military-style uniform typical of the state schools of the Third Republic, where discipline became stricter after the defeat of 1870. We can recognise the kepi with piping, the dark tunic with single breasted buttons and gold buttons, the dark trousers with red piping and the gold badge embroidered on the collar, in this case, as is often the case, the palmes académiques. Although the artist did not paint the exact insignia on the collar or kepi, it probably refers to the uniform of the Lycée de Toulon, now the Collège Pereisc, on Boulevard de Strasbourg, the only lycée in the city in 1884.
The accuracy of the attitude of this young man, who appears to have been caught on the spot, helps us to understand why Adolphe Bonny was recognised as a talented portrait painter.
See original version (French)
Auto-translation. Refer to original language for legal validity.
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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