“Portrait of Jules Dalou” by Alphonse Legros

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Portrait of Jules Dalou

Alphonse Legros

c.1878;

Etching and drypoint on brown ink on paper

10 ⅛ x 6½ inches (25.7 x 16.5 cm) – platemark

Legros made two plates of Dalou. This etching, which is the second plate, exists in seven states with only the 6th and 7th states being common. This portrait was reproduced in The Portfolio in 1877 on page 80. Philip Hamerton, the editor of this publication, explained how it came to be published: Besides being a good maker of portraits, M. Dalou is himself an excellent subject for portraiture, as this etching by M. Legros very sufficiently proves. It was not etched specifically for the Portfolio, but its merits as a work of art induced us to secure the plate whilst still unpublished. We have seldom met with so fine an example of portrait design in serious modern art” (80).

[Click on image to enlarge it.]

Frederick Keppel felt this etching ranked with the masterpieces of 19th century prints: “In this portrait again, ‘style’ is evident in every line. The means are so simple, the result so satisfactory” (210). In this etching, similar to his print of Edward Poynter, Legros used a background of horizontal hatched lines, a technique inspired by the engravings of the Old Masters of the Italian Renaissance.

The friendship of Legros with sculptor Dalou was of long-standing. They had first met in 1853 when both were art students attending the Petite École de Dessin in Paris. In 1870 Dalou joined the ranks of the National Guard during the Franco-Prussian War. Following the war Dalou gained the reputation of being associated with the Paris Commune and he was exiled after its suppression. In July 1871 he fled to London, staying at first with Legros. Both artists were soon teaching at the National Art Training Schhol in South Kensington. Dalou stayed for eight years in London before returning to Paris in 1879. He had an enormous influence on the group of young British sculptors who formed the New Sculpture movement. — Dennis T. Lanigan

Links to Related Material

Aimé-Jules Dalou, 1838-1902 (homepage)

Bibliography

Dodgson, Campbell: A catalogue of the etchings, drypoints and lithographs by Professor Alphonse Legros in the collection of Frank E. Bliss. London: Printed for Private Circulation, 1923, cat. no. 41, 9.

Hamerton, Philip G. “Jules Dalou.” The Portfolio VIII (1877): 78-80.

Keppel, Frederick. The Golden Age of Engraving: A Specialist’s Story about Fine Prints. Third Edition. New York: The Baker and Taylor Company, 1910.

Last modified 24 November 2022