Artwork

Cyrus-Marie-Adélaïde de Timbrune, Count of Valence, General-in-Chief of the Army of the Ardennes

Cyrus-Marie-Adélaïde de Timbrune, Count of Valence, General-in-Chief of the Army of the Ardennes is an oil painting by the French Romanticist artist Merry-Joseph Blondel. It dates from 1834 and is held in the collection of the Palace of Versailles.

About this work

Subject & Meaning

The painting was created in 1834 by Merry-Joseph Blondel and is cataloged under the Joconde database as part of the French state collections.

The portrait shows General Cyrus-Marie-Adélaïde de Timbrune standing in his military uniform, hat, and overcoat, emphasizing his role as General-in-Chief of the Army of the Ardennes. The work is rendered in oil on canvas and is housed in the Museum of the History of France at the Palace of Versailles.

The depiction highlights his rank and authority through formal attire and insignia, symbolizing both personal distinction and the broader context of French military leadership during the early 19th century. The painting was created in 1834 by Merry-Joseph Blondel and is cataloged under the Joconde database as part of the French state collections.

Technique & Style

The portrait of Cyrus-Marie-Adélaïde de Timbrune, Count of Valence, is executed in oil paint on canvas. Created in 1834 by Merry-Joseph Blondel, the work measures 135 cm in height and 100 cm in width. As a formal portrait, it depicts the subject in his role as General-in-Chief of the Army of the Ardennes, featuring specific attire such as a hat, overcoat, and military uniform.

The painting is currently held by the Museum of the History of France at the Palace of Versailles.

History & Provenance

The portrait was painted in 1834 by Merry-Joseph Blondel, as indicated by both the work’s internal documentation and the Versailles museum record.

The painting entered the collection of the Museum of the History of France at the Palace of Versailles, where it is currently held under inventory number MV 2351 (also listed as INV 2667 and LP 465). Its creation followed decades after the sitter’s death in 1822, aligning with the posthumous commemorative portraiture tradition of the July Monarchy period.

The painting is held by the Musée national des châteaux de Versailles et de Trianon (Palace of Versailles).

It carries the inventory numbers MV 2351, INV 2667, and LP 465 within the museum’s collections.

The work has not been recorded as included in any documented exhibitions in the cited sources.

Overview

This 1834 oil painting by Merry-Joseph Blondel portrays Cyrus-Marie-Adélaïde de Timbrune, Count of Valence and General-in-Chief of the Army of the Ardennes, in formal military attire. The work combines Neoclassical training with French Romantic elements and is housed at the Palace of Versailles.

Context

Created during a period of French historical and artistic transition, the painting situates itself within the broader context of 19th-century French portraiture, balancing the formalism of Neoclassicism with the emerging emotional depth of Romanticism.

Legacy

As part of the Versailles collection, the portrait contributes to the historical and artistic narrative of French military leadership and 19th-century artistic practices, reflecting Blondel's contribution to the era's visual culture.