Simon Bernard LENOIR (Paris, 1729 - Evreux, 1791) - Lot 61

Simon Bernard LENOIR (Paris, 1729 - Evreux, 1791) Portrait of Pierre François Ordinaire Original canvas Height : 92 cm. Width : 73 cm Signed and dated upper left 'Le Noir P. 1790'. Inscribed on reverse 'Monsieur Ordinaire ancien / avocat Elu Maire / à une très grande majorité / devoix en L'an 1790 / peint par Lenoir / peintre du Roy / et professeur de L'Académie / Etablie à Besançon'. Provenance : Hôtel des ventes Gioffredo, Me Palloc, Courchet et Fede, Nice, December 9, 1993, lot 12 (with a portrait of Léon Ordinaire as previous N°). According to Neil JEFFARES, (A Dictionary of pastellists before 1800) about the artist Simon Bernard LENOIR (Paris, 1728 - Evreux 1798): the artist was sent to Besançon in 1786, where he became director of the Académie des Beaux-arts. He was moved there and recommended by Pierre, the King's first painter, to satisfy the request of the Intendant of Franche-Comté. The school closed in 1789, but his presence in Besançon in 1790 is attested by a signature found in a register of his daughter Joséphine Laure Victoire's baptism, which took place in Besançon's Saint-Pierre church. Experts: Cabinet Turquin