Charlemagne Oscar Guet (1801-1871), Phébus chez Madame de Gondelaurier

Charlemagne Oscar Guet (1801-1871)

Phébus chez Madame de Gondelaurier

Oil on canvas, 54.5 x 73 cm

Signed and dated 1838, lower right

This painting is based on a composition the artist created for the 1837 Salon. An autograph replica of the painting created by the artist in 1838, our work shows Phébus courting Fleur-de-Lys in the salon of his mother, Madame de Gondelaurier.
Inspired by Victor Hugo's novel Notre-Dame de Paris, published in 1831, our painting honors the story's major protagonists, in the shadow of the cathedral's towers of the same name.
Fleur-de-Lys de Gondelaurier is the young woman promised in marriage to Captain Phébus. Captain Phébus is also in love with the beautiful Esmeralda. Insane with jealousy, Fleur-de-Lys demands that her rival be put to death in order to forgive her betrothed.
After passing through the studio of Antoine Jean Gros from 1818 to 1821, Oscar Guet was taught by Louis Hersent and then Horace Vernet. It was probably in this context of troubadour inspiration that our painter conceived this painting, as well as another depicting Phébus and Esmeralda at the Falourdet home.
A master of the genre, Guet would go on to illustrate himself in numerous historical and romantic paintings with a troubadour theme.la maison bretonne