Olivier Journu (1724–1783)

Jean-Baptiste Perronneau

1756 · Pastel on blue-gray laid paper, laid down on canvas · European Paintings

Perronneau, trained as a painter, pastelist, and engraver, entered the Académie Royale in 1753. By that time he was already admired as a colorist and had exhibited widely; however, he seems to have discovered that he could not compete with Maurice Quentin de La Tour for aristocratic or royal clients and for the most part sought work outside the capital. In 1756 Perronneau visited Bordeaux to paint members of the Journu family of shipping magnates whose wealth derived from the sugar and slave trades. The first of these portraits represented Bernard, called Olivier, who was born about 1716. Journu appears to be acutely aware of the dashing impression he makes, which appealed greatly to key nineteenth-century aesthetes, including Robert de Montesquiou and the brothers Goncourt.

Artist

Jean-Baptiste Perronneau

Date

1756

Medium

Pastel on blue-gray laid paper, laid down on canvas

Department

European Paintings

Credit line

Wrightsman Fund, 2003