Antoine Jean GROS known as Baron GROS (Paris,... Lot 6

Antoine Jean GROS known as Baron GROS (Paris, 1771 - Meudon, 1835) Napoleon visiting the salon of the Louvre distributing crosses of the Legion of Honor to artists on October 22, 1808 Pen and brown ink 50 x 70 cm Pitting, folding, foxing Provenance: - Collection of Édouard, Duke of Treviso (1883-1946) - By descent, private collection. Our drawing is a preparation for the painting kept at the Château de Versailles (inv. MV6347 RF 739) " His Majesty the Emperor (...) will deign to visit this Exhibition and it is there that, according to the examination he will make of your works, his munificence and justice will dispense the premiums and the encouragements to the Artists whose Works will have deserved the esteem of their competitors and of the public. (Dominique-Vivant Denon, 1804) An exceptional testimony to the work of Baron Gros, our drawing is the only known preparatory drawing of the painted work preserved at the Palace of Versailles. It represents Napoleon Bonaparte at the Salon du Louvre on October 22, 1808, distributing the crosses of the Legion of Honor, a decoration created six years earlier to reward "all kinds of merit and good service", favored by the military field. However, Gros immortalizes the benevolent Emperor decorating artists, including the one shown opposite him, who is none other than Jacques-Louis David (1748-1825), the Empire's favorite artist receiving the gold cross of Officer of the Order of the Legion of Honor. Expert : Mr Alexis Bordes Please note that bids and absentee bids on this lot are subject to conditions. To bid on this lot you must contact the auction house at contact@morlaix-encheres.com or 0033 2 88 08 39. If you did not contact our office before the start of the auction sale. Your bids will not be taken into account.