Henri Gauthier, count of Rigny, vice-admiral (1783-1835)

François Gabriel Guillaume Lépaulle painted this oil-on-canvas portrait in 1836, the year following the death of its subject, Henri Gauthier, comte de Rigny. The work was exhibited at the Salon of 1836, establishing its public presence in the same year of its creation. The painting entered the collection of the Museum of the History of France at the Palace of Versailles, where it remains.

The portrait is held in the collection of the Museum of the History of France, located within the Palace of Versailles in France. It is cataloged under the inventory reference 000PE008444 in the Joconde database of French museum collections. The work was publicly exhibited at the Salon of 1836 shortly after its completion.

François Gabriel Guillaume Lépaulle’s 1836 oil portrait presents Henri de Rigny, a distinguished French vice‑admiral and diplomat, in full naval regalia. The composition places the officer on a ship’s deck, his gaze directed away, suggesting contemplation of duty. The painting resides in the collection of the Palace of Versailles, offering a formal visual record of a prominent early‑nineteenth‑century figure.

The painting reflects the early July Monarchy’s emphasis on commemorating military and diplomatic service. By situating de Rigny on a vessel rather than in a conventional studio setting, Lépaulle aligns the portrait with contemporary French traditions that celebrated naval achievements and the nation’s expanding global presence.