Portraits of Empress Eugénie and Napoleon III

These paintings are a copy of the paintings, currently missing, representing the imperial couple painted in 1853 by Winterhalter. They adorn, on both sides of the fireplace, the wall of the living room in the original decoration designed in 1899-1901. Victor Masséna set them up in what was once the music show.

Winterhalter’s works were an official painting by the Emperor and the Empress. The paintings preserved in the Villa Masséna, from the collection of Victor Masséna, were made by Auguste Gamen-Dupasquier, portraitist and historical painter, who entered the School of Fine Arts in 1832, who performed several copies of the paintings of the Imperial couple by Winterhalter.

Winterhalter, a delicate portraitist, will become under the Second Empire, an admired, courtesy and recognized painter, including Napoleon III and Empress Eugénie.

Auguste GAMEN-DUPASQUIER (1811-1858)
According to Franz Xaver WINTERHALTER (1805-1873)
Portraits of Empress Eugénie and Napoleon III
Around 1855
Oil on canvas
250 x 153 cm