

French School
Portrait of a Gentleman
Oil on canvas
Image size: 17 x 21 inches (43 x 53.4 cm)
Original gilt frame
Provenance
The Diesbach family collection
In this stoic portrait of a gentleman, an Imperial Army Physician, is depicted wearing a deep Prussian blue jacket adorned with silver buttons and a high muslin cravat as he illustrates the significant shift in socio-political culture in the 19th-century in France. The English-inspired attire became fashionable in France in the late 1790s, symbolising a deliberate departure from the former ancien régime of the French aristocracy.
The dark, vivid colours of cut and tailored suits had become key indicators of quality, reflecting the popular styles influenced by Dandy and Romantic movements of the time.
The dandy - a man who placed high importance on personal aesthetics and hobbies while maintaining an air of nonchalance - arguably emerged as early as the 1790s. In the 18th century, mens fashion simplified, with a greater emphasis on tailoring to enhance the body’s natural form. Additionally, as depicted, Fabasse reflects the popularity of many notable men, especially the younger ones who adopted the new fashion trend of short, unpowdered hairstyles popularised by Napoleon Bonaparte, the leader of the Imperial Army.

