Lot 66: GEORGES ROUGET (FRENCH 1784-1869) A PORTRAIT OF JEAN BAPTISTE GASPARD ROUX DE ROCHELLE

signed and dated 1817 c.l., oil on canvas 59 by 49 cm.; 23 1/4 by 19 1/4 in. Georges Rouget was a pupil of Jacques Louis David and painted historical and battle scenes as well as portraits. He later became one of David's assistants helping him on many important paintings including the copy of the Sacre de Napoleon et Josphine, almost entirely painted by Rouget and currently in the Chateau de Versailles. In 1817, he exhibited several portraits in the Salon which are not fully described in the book, but it is highly probable that this painting was one of them. Jean Baptiste Gaspard Roux de Rochelle was the head of Napoleon I's political cabinet. In 1829-30, he was the French Ministre Plenipotentiaire in Washington.