Workshop of Antoine Jean, baron Gros (Paris 1771-1835... Lot 344

Workshop of Antoine Jean, baron Gros (Paris 1771-1835 Meudon)
Bust portrait of General Claude Juste Alexandre Louis, Comte Le Grand (1762-1815), 1810.
Oil on canvas
41 x 33 cm
Presented in a fine Empire period gilded and molded wood frame.
We would like to thank Mr. Gerard Auguier, a specialist in the work of Baron Gerard, for confirming, in a letter dated March 13, 2024, the work's workshop status, following a visual examination.
General Legrand's descendants include members of the following families:
Andre-Pidancet
Barbry
de Benoist
Blanchy
de Boissieu
Bothier
de Broglie
de Brosses
Breant
de Begon de Larouziere-Montlosier
de Cacqueray-Valmenier
Callies
Castres
Chauvelot
le Clement de Saint-Marcq
de Coral
Darrieus
Dauger
Delplanque
Desgrees du Lou
Desrousseaux de Medrano
Dolgorouky
Doublet de Persan
de Drouas
Duclaux de L'Estoille
Ducluzaux
d'Eimar de Jabrun
Fagneux
Ferlet
Gaultier
de Goulaine
Grosbois
Guernier
Guyon de Montlivault
Heidsieck
d'Hebrail
Isoard de Chenerilles
Jourdier
Kabis de Saint-Chamas
de Lafaire
Le Boucher d'Herouville
Ledoux
Lefebvre de Plinval-Salgues
Mace de Gastines
de Maigret
de Maupeou d'Ableiges
Mouchet de Battefort de Laubespin
O'Mahony
Panhard
Panon Desbassayns de Richemont
Penan
de Pierre de Bernis-Calviere
Piot
Poupaud
de Quatrebarbes
Renaud-Blanc-Fontenille
de Robin de Barbentane
Robin de La Cotardiere
de Rouge
de Rozieres
Saint-Mard
de Saporta
Servin
de Seze
Terray
de Tredern
de Viguerie
de Villaines
de Vincens de Causans
de Vivie de Regie
Zante
Provenance:
Most likely commissioned by one of his aides-de-camp, also a member of his family
Then by descent to the present day
Our portrait, which has remained in the model's family to this day, is a reduced version of the monumental portrait executed by Gros in 1810, exhibited at the Salon of 1812, and bequeathed by his family to the Chateau de Versailles in 1913 (inv. MV5871).
Legrand, a model of upward social mobility, began his career in the army in 1777 as a private and distinguished himself until he was appointed sergeant-major in 1786.
His recklessness and tactical acumen, in the highly turbulent context of the Revolution, were to propel him remarkably up the hierarchy: he was made brigadier general in September 1793.
His heroic conduct at Fleurus (June 26, 1794) and his campaign in Year III, particularly his night crossing of the Rhine at Dusseldorf, led General Jourdan to say: "General Legrand's conduct and intrepidity are above all praise.
The rest of his career followed this citation, notably at Austerlitz, where his talent and tenacity earned him the Grand Eagle of the Legion of Honor.
Made a Comte d'Empire in 1808, he took advantage of a brief leave of absence in 1810 to commission three portraits from Baron Gros: that of his second wife Henriette (Versailles, inv. MV6389), that of his late first son Dominique-Alexandre (Los Angeles, LACMA, inv. 49.41) and his own.
He died on January 9, 1815, following the wound he received on the banks of the Berezina, being a peer of France, Grand Cross of the Royal Order of the Legion of Honor, Knight of the Order of Saint-Louis, Grand Cross of the Order of Military Merit of Baden.
His mortal remains are deposited in the Pantheon, and his name is inscribed on the east side of the Arc de Triomphe de l'Etoile.
Bibliography :
- Louis Devilly, Notice historique sur le general Legrand, lue a la seance publique de la Societe des lettres, sciences et arts de Metz, Metz, Lamort, 1822
- Jerome Fehrenbach (pref. Jean Tulard), Alexandre Legrand: 1762-1815: un general de Fleurus a la Berezina, Paris, Soteca Napoleon Ier, 2012