Marguerite GERARD (Grasse, 1761 - Paris, 1837) - "Portrait d - Lot 237

Marguerite GERARD (Grasse, 1761 - Paris, 1837) - "Portrait de Monsieur et Madame Artaud" - Original canvas - 61 x 50 - Empire period frame with palmettes. Signed lower left Mte/gerard. Provenance: Dor family collection; then by descent Vincent Dor collection (1932-2024) Monaco. Our painting represents Joseph Artaud (1721-c.1821) and his wife Marie Aimare Pons (c.1733-1821). Exhibition "Les Peintres de la famille de Jean Honoré Fragonard" Villa-Musée Jean Honoré Fragonard, Grasse, April 16 - May 15, 1988. Reproduced in Georges Vindry's exhibition catalog, illustration no. 4. Carole Blumenfeld; Marguerite Gérard, 2019, ed Gourcuff grade Nico, Montreuil, p 222 n°90P. Our painting depicts Joseph Artaud (1721-c.1821) and his wife Marie Aimare Pons (c.1733-1821). Merchants and perfumers from the town of Grasse, the Artaud family were among the founding members of the community of Gantiers-Parfumeurs, a guild expert in the traditional perfuming of leather gloves. In France, a Grasse tanner named Molinard is said to have given Catherine de Médicis a pair of perfumed gloves. perfumed gloves. Enchanted by this gift, the sovereign took it back to the Court, and this new accessory quickly spread the French aristocratic classes. In the face of such success, the manufacturers in Grasse developed essences to flavor luxury leather, making this new craft their specialty. Thanks to this know-how, the small town of Grasse quickly acquired a worldwide reputation in glove-making perfumery. Marguerite Gérard, herself from a family of Grasse perfume merchants, was part of the Artauds' close social circle. social circle of the Artauds and the local aristocracy.