Artwork
The Veteran
The Veteran is an oil painting by the Realist artist Marie-François Firmin-Girard. It dates from 1870 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Technique & Style
The Veteran is an oil painting executed on canvas. The work measures 43.0 centimeters in height by 30.3 centimeters in width. It was created in 1870 by Marie-François Firmin-Girard, a French artist active during the late 19th century. The painting is part of the Cleveland Museum of Art's collection, reflecting its significance within institutional holdings.
History & Provenance
The Veteran was painted in 1870 by the French artist Marie‑François Firmin‑Girard using oil on canvas.
The Veteran was painted in 1870 by the French artist Marie‑François Firmin‑Girard using oil on canvas. According to the work’s provenance recorded in the Cleveland Museum of Art’s holdings, the painting has been part of the museum’s collection since at least its acquisition, with no earlier owners documented in the available sources. No record of a specific commission appears in the cited material; the dating and medium are taken from the artwork’s inception date of 1 January 1870 and its classification as an oil painting.
Overview
The Veteran, executed in oil in 1870 by French painter Marie‑François Firmin‑Girard, is part of the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. The work depicts a solitary figure standing on a snow‑covered street corner, his posture and expression suggesting a moment of quiet contemplation amid an urban winter scene.
Subject & Meaning
At the center of the composition a man in a long, dark coat holds his hat, his face set in a serious, perhaps weary, expression. Behind him a wall is plastered with faded notices, advertisements for assistance and supplies, hinting at the social conditions of the period and the veteran’s possible connection to public aid or relief efforts.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Marie-François Firmin-Girard (1838–1921) was a French artist, born in Poncin.
