Workshop of François Gérard called BARON GERARD (Rome, 1770 - Paris, 1837) Portrait of Charles X in bust form Oil on canvas, sketched and unfinished In its original wood and gilded stucco frame with palmettes and fleur-de-lys decoration 94 x 78 cm Wear and restoration The frame bears on the back the iron mark "Mée RL" in a rectangle for Musée Royal du Louvre The canvas is marked with two intertwined C's for Charles X and "MR n100" Our work is to be compared with the official full-length portrait of the monarch kept in Versailles at the Musée national des châteaux de Versailles et de Trianon (inv. MV 4795). A talented portraitist who was recognised during his lifetime, François Gérard was appointed first painter to King Louis XVIII and retained this title under Charles X. He was therefore naturally entrusted with the production of the official portrait. In this version, probably done by the artist's studio, Charles X appears in bust form, dressed in his royal costume, an opportunity for the artist's studio to show all the virtuosity taught by the master, particularly in the rendering of the model's very vivid presence, the smoothness of the flesh and the special attention given to the rendering of the materials. Provenance: Château de Keranroux, Finistère, France We would like to thank Mr. Daniel Alcouffe, former General Curator of Heritage, Director of the Department of Works of Art at the Louvre, for his valuable assistance.