Portrait of Théophile Malo de La Tour d'Auvergne-Corret (

Entourage of Jacques Louis DAVID
Portrait of Théophile Malo de La Tour d'Auvergne-Corret (1743-1800)
Oil on canvas
H. 55 cm; W. 45 cm
around 1799/1800

If the name of the painter is missing today, the quality of the work is nevertheless quite exceptional. Located between David and Dubois-Drahonet, the author of this portrait is already experienced and works with great precision on the smallest details. The hands of our man are pushed to the point of seeing the veins and the detail of the nails, as well as the face whose features are very fine, or the golden plate placed in front of the grenadier's hat.

It is almost certainly the portrait of the man whom Napoleon named "First Grenadier of the Armies of the Republic", a title created for our man: Théophile Malo de la Tour d'Auvergne-Corret. Connoisseurs of the great names of this country will be surprised by this Corret surname, added to one of the most illustrious French families. Our grenadier was born under the name of Corret in Brittany, son of a notary of small nobility. After studying in Quimper with the Jesuits, he joined the Musketeers of the King's Household, known as "Black Musketeers". The young Corret then joined the Angoumois regiment as a second lieutenant, with whom he travelled from garrison to garrison in France. After about ten years of service, he met the Duke of Bouillon, Godfrey de La Tour d'Auvergne, with whom he had many affinities. The most important is a family relationship, since they are cousins. Henri de la Tour d'Auvergne (better known as the Great Turenne) had a son out of wedlock, not recognized. This one was born to a Miss Corret, whose name Théophile-Malo bears. The Duke of Bouillon, knowing perfectly well the existence of this branch, authorized our man to bear the name of La Tour d'Auvergne added to his own.

From then on, officially signing with this great name, he engaged in numerous military epics until 1795 when, after being taken prisoner by the English, he decided to stop his service. He successively refused the ranks of colonel, battalion commander and even to become a member of the Legislative Body... A strong head! In 1799 he resumed his service as a captain and participated in the victory of Zurich. At the beginning of 1800, he dined with Napoleon who created the famous title of First Grenadier. A few months later he joined the army of the Rhine and died in Oberhausen by an Austrian spear. His heart is preserved at the Invalides and his ashes were transferred in 1889 to the Pantheon.