Jacques François Joseph SWEBACH, known as Swebach-Desfontain - Lot 192

Jacques François Joseph SWEBACH, known as Swebach-Desfontaines (1769-1823) The Hunting Party Oil on canvas H_68 cm x W_56 cm Signed lower left Faded Swebach-Desfontaines was one of the pioneers, along with Lazare Bruandet and Georges Michel, to start painting in the Fontainebleau forest in the 1780s, and was one of the forerunners of what would become the Barbizon school several decades later. His skill as a draftsman and his ability to create small figures led him to grace the early paintings of Michel and Taunay, and to become one of the most sought-after painters at the Manufacture de Sèvre. The period of the First Empire and its sumptuous commissions saw him work on numerous large-scale projects for the Emperor. He remained first painter at the manufactory from 1802 to 1813, and Alexandre Brongniart, its director, even said: "He is the first painter of his kind after Vernet for scenes of horse battles. Our painting, typical of the artist, was known from another version sold at Sotheby's in Monaco in 1987 (adj. 100,000frs). This composition, with different foreground figures, was more recently sold at a Paris gallery. Provenance : - Fine French collection Expert: Cabinet Artéon