Artwork Page for Portrait of Alfred de Musset (1810-1857)

Details / Information for Portrait of Alfred de Musset (1810-1857)

Portrait of Alfred de Musset (1810-1857)

c. 1850s

Alexandre Bida

(French, 1823–1895)
Culture
France, 19th century
Medium
black chalk and graphite with stumping, watercolor, gouache, and fabricated colored chalk on medium weight wove paper
Measurements
Overall: 43.6 x 30.7 cm (17 3/16 x 12 1/16 in.)
Credit Line
Bequest of Muriel Butkin 2019.62
Public Domain
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Location
Not on view
Print
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Did You Know?

Alexandre Bida was an accomplished illustrator and produced images to accompany an 1865 edition of the works of Alfred de Musset, this portrait’s sitter.

Description

This portrait is one of only a few that Alexandre Bida—known primarily for his depictions of North Africa—created during his career. It depicts the celebrated French poet and novelist Alfred de Musset (1810–1857). Bida was commissioned to create illustrations for an 1865 publication of Musset’s collected writings, and the drawing was likely completed in commemoration of that project.
A vertically oriented black chalk and watercolor drawing on beige paper depicts Alfred de Musset seated in profile facing left. He has a reddish-brown beard and balding hair, wearing a dark coat over a waistcoat of orange, blue, and gray stripes. His right hand holds a curved cane, and a green ring adorns his left. Behind him, a top hat rests in a hazy background from which sketchy chalk lines hazily escape.

Portrait of Alfred de Musset (1810-1857)

c. 1850s

Alexandre Bida

(French, 1823–1895)
France, 19th century

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