Balthasar Charles LARPENTEUR (1783-c.1846)

Lot 222
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Estimation :
8000 - 10000 EUR
Result with fees
Result : 12 800EUR
Balthasar Charles LARPENTEUR (1783-c.1846)
"Raspail in the prison of Versailles: the happy reunion Very large and important oil on canvas signed and dated 1833 " In the prisons of Versailles ". Modern gilt frame. 153 x 192 cm. A.B.E. (re-finished). Provenance: - Raspail family. - Property of Mr. Julien RASPAIL, grandson of the scholar, in 1904. - Not located during the exhibition dedicated to François Raspail in 1978, the painting is described under the n°50. - Bought by André DAMIEN in a public sale in Versailles. History: From 1810 to 1846, Larpanteur exhibited at the Salon, including our painting at the Salon of 1835. The portrait is the domain of our man. We find in the magazine "Archives de la parasitologie" of 1904, an analysis of our painting: From left to right are represented the painter LARPENTEUR, BLANQUI seated, holding a feather, BONNIAS, RASPAIL, his two sons Camille and Benjamin, de KERSAUSIE, in profile, in the background Madame RASPAIL holding her last born Emile. It is then the property of Julien Raspail, in Arcueil. Exhibition: Our painting is mentioned in "François-Vincent Raspail, 1794-1878", catalog of the 1978 exhibition at the National Library under n°50 (reproduced). Catalog available on Gallica. François Vincent RASPAIL (Carpentras 1794-Arcueil 1878), French chemist and politician. Former seminarian, teacher, he came to Paris (1816) to study law and natural sciences. Of republican opinion, he frequented the Charbonnerie (a secret society stemming from carbonarism, 1821) and took part in the revolution of 1830. Under the July monarchy, he was active in republican clubs (Société des amis du peuple, Société des droits de l'homme). Several times prosecuted and sentenced for his republican activities (1832-1834), it is at this time that our painting represents him. In the scientific field, he continued his work and research. In 1840, his expertise on arsenic at the trial of Mrs. Lafarge contributed to save the accused. He also developed a therapy based on camphor and published popular works (the Family Doctor, 1843; the Health Manual, 1845) which ensured him a great popularity, but caused him to be prosecuted for illegal practice of medicine (1846). At the head of the 1848 movements, he founded the newspaper l'Ami du peuple. He was one of the main organizers of the day of May 15 (demonstrations for Poland) and was arrested with Barbès and Blanqui. He was a socialist candidate for the presidency of the Republic against Louis Napoleon Bonaparte (December 1848), but only obtained about 36,000 votes. In April 1849, he was condemned to banishment for his participation in the May 15 day and retired to Belgium. Amnestied (1859), elected deputy (1869), he did not take part in the Paris Commune, but, in 1874, he was condemned for having commemorated the death of Delescluze in his Almanach et calendrier météorologique of 1873. As a deputy (1876-1878), he fought for the republican principles and the amnesty of the communards.
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