DELECHAUX, MARCELIN (French, 1821-1902). "The Introduction." Signed, L.L. Oil on board, 12" x 15˝" (sight); 17" x 21" (framed). Price Category: NFS

Marcelin Delechaux was a talented genre painter who was born in Bordeaux in 1821. He died at Colombes (Seine) in 1902. He studied with two of the most important genre painters of the day, Antoine Emile Plasson (1817-1903) and Henri Pottin (1820-1864). The latter were influenced by the great historical genre painter Ernest Meissonier, and Delechaux indirectly was influenced by Meissonier through their teaching. Delechaux specialized in interior scenes and figure painting, often setting his scenes in the 17th Century, as is the case here. He also was known for drawing his subject matter from popular novels, such as Gils Blas. Delechaux exhibited at the Salon from 1859. His genre scene titled The Introduction attracted particular attention at the Salon of 1864, and it is possible that this painting is the one that was cited. Records also indicate Delechaux's participation at the Salon des Amis des Arts de Bordeaux from 1865 to 1881. In this well-constructed Salon painting, a young woman introduces her suitor to her seated father, who is posed rather grandly next to a window (an echo of the Dutch Masters). The family jewels are displayed ostentatiously on a table next to him. The young man bows with a flourish, with every expectation of being accepted. The lace work on the young woman's dress is delicately painted, and there are carefully worked details throughout (for instance, the flowery wallpaper design in the background). Provenance: The Belgian Consulate in New York until 1939. The consulate was forced to close that year after the Nazis invaded Belgium. The work was purchased at auction at the consulate by the present owner's father; then by descent. References: Louis Auvray, Artistes de L'Ecole Française (Librairie Renouard: Paris, 1882). E. Bénézit, Dictionnaire des Peintres, Sculpteurs, Dessinateurs, et Gravures (Librarie Gründ : Paris, 1976). Emile Bellier de la Chavignerie, Dictionnaire Generale des Artistes de L'Ecole Français (Paris: 1882). Explication des ouvrages de Peinture, Sculpture, Architecture, Gravure, et Lithographie des Artistes Vivants dans les Galeries de la Societe des Amis des Arts (Bordeaux: 1865, 1866, 1877, 1878, 1881). K. G. Saur, Allgemeines Künstler-Lexikon (Saur: München-Leipzig, 2000). U. Thieme and F. Becker, Allegemeines Lexikon der Buildenden Künstler, Vol. IX.

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