Charles de Novion (1792-1861) - Rocks at Belle-Île-en-Mer

Léon Charles de Novion
(Saint-Quentin, 1792 – Saint-Philbert de Grand-Lieu, 1861)

Rocks at Belle-Ile-en-Mer

Oil on paper mounted on strong cardboard mounted on canvas
Inscription in ink on the back: "Study by my grandfather the Count of Novion in 1840 - Rochers à Belle-Isle-en-Mer"
27x36cm
1840

Son of Jean Victor de Novion (1747-1825) and Anne Le Prestre de la Moustière (1768-?), Léon Charles de Novion, Count of Novion, was born on May 29, 1792 in Saint-Quentin.

Charles de Novion is mainly known for his military career. He was successively bodyguard to the King, aide-de-camp to Lieutenant General Thiebault, aide-de-camp to Marshal de Camp Chabert, officer of the Chasseurs à Cheval and aide-de-camp to Lieutenant General Comte de Rumigny.

Parallel to his military career, Charles de Novion also devoted himself to painting according to his availability. Wounded in the knee in 1812, he remained without affectation until the return of the Bourbons and undoubtedly took advantage of these two years to devote himself to painting. He did the same in 1816, where he may have frequented the studio of Baron Gros. In 1819, as aide camp to the governor of the Invalides, he painted La toilette d’un invalide, which he exhibited at the Salon. This painting earned him a medal of encouragement. He will again be present at the Salon in 1822 with two interior scenes and then in 1824 with five landscapes and an interior scene. According to the booklet of the Salon, he collaborated that year with the artists Eugène Lami and Duval le Camus who created the characters in his paintings. He also exhibited in 1825 at the Salons of Lille and Douai various landscapes.

Married in 1826 to Henriette Rousselot de Saint-Céran (1805-1875) with whom he had three sons, Charles de Novion was made a Knight of the Legion of Honor on February 1, 1815 and raised to the rank of officer on September 2, 1843.

He died on April 23, 1861 in Saint-Philbert-de-Grand-Lieu.