Bastien Pradel
James Jacques Joseph Tissot
Description
Subject Matter:
Bastien Pradel served with Tissot in the French National Guard during the 1870-71 seige of Paris, which was part of the Franco-Prussian war. Tissot made a similar etching of another of his fellow guardsmen, Sylvian Perier; however, only the portrait of Pradel was included in his 1875 portfolio, Ten Etchings. The etching was a "souvenir," or memory, of the Siege of Paris made after Tissot had already fled from Paris to London following the 1871 Paris Commune.
Physical Description:
A man in a military uniform is shown in full length, standing in a slight contrapposto pose on a blank background. He rests the butt of his rifle on the ground, resting both hands on the tip of the barrel. He is also equipped with a sword, multiple sacks at his waist, one over his right shoulder, and a rucksack on his back. He wears a kepi (cap) on his head, which is tilted slightly to his left.
Inscriptions (all recto):
Signed and dated lower right, in the plate: "J.J. Tissot / 1870"
Inscribed upper left, in the plate: "Bastien Pradel de Figaro / du 39"
Tissot's stamp (Lugt 1545), lower left
Usage Rights:
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