Portrait of Henri Herz

Description

Eugène Devéria
France, 1805–1865
Portrait of Henri Herz
1832
Watercolor and ink over graphite
The Paul Leroy Grigaut Memorial Collection, 1969/2.81
Both Eugène Devéria and his brother, Achille, drew portraits of the virtuoso pianist and composer, Henri Herz (1803–1888); the Museum’s collection includes a lithographic portrait of Herz by Achille, possibly taken at the same sitting. Devéria studied with the painter Girodet and early in his career achieved great critical success; he spent the remainder of his career attempting to match that early acclaim.
This impressive watercolor shows Herz seated in what may be the Paris studio where he gave lessons. Known as a dazzling performer until his reputation was eclipsed by the explosive performances of Franz Liszt, Herz performed only his own works in concert and toured Europe as a young pianist. This portrait, executed at the height of Herz’s popularity, shows a confident young man seated in a well-appointed interior—a man seemingly in control of his music, and his fate.
(6/28/10)