26 - Attributed to Louis-François Roulin (1821–1839)

Attributed to Louis-François Roulin (1821–1839) Saint George Slaying the Dragon Oil on paper Inscribed “Roulin 1840” on the stretcher and “ROULIN” on the reverse 22.2 x 15.5 cm This delicate oil on paper can be attributed to Louis-François Roulin, a student of Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres and Alexandre Colin. Born in Brittany, in a town near Rennes, he showed exceptional talent for drawing from a very early age. His precocious talent was recognized as early as 1832, when he was only eleven years old: his name already appeared in the student registers of the École des Beaux-Arts. Two years later, he entered the Prix de Rome competition for the first time, successfully passing the initial sketch phase. In 1837, he painted a remarkable self-portrait, now housed at the Musée des Beaux-Arts in Rennes. In 1838, the young artist left for Rome, no doubt to further his training before attempting the prestigious competition once again. But he fell ill and died in 1839, a few days before his eighteenth birthday. Although his works are rare on the market due to a limited output resulting from his short life, Louis-François Roulin nevertheless offers a glimpse, through the few surviving paintings and drawings as well as accounts of his brief life, of the promise of a brilliant and unique career. Expert: Mégane OLLIVIER