An artwork on Galleree from Minneapolis Institute of Art.
About the artwork
Portrait of Dr. Thomas Penrose1798
Artist: Louis Gauffier
French, 1762 - 1801
Portrait of Dr. Thomas Penrose holding a sketch book, seated on a bank overlooking the Duomo and Palazzo Vecchio, Florence, Italy.
25 3/4 x 19 3/8 in. (65.41 x 49.21 cm) (sight)
30 5/8 x 24 1/4 x 2 5/8 in. (77.79 x 61.6 x 6.67 cm) (outer frame)
Oil on canvas
Painting
France
18th century
The John R. Van Derlip Fund
In the vibrant backdrop of Florence in 1793, a whirlwind of change swept through Europe. Artists and dreamers alike were caught in the tide of revolution and uncertainty. Among them was Louis Gauffier, a French painter whose heart beat in rhythm with the pulsing essence of history. Having fled Rome—a city rife with trepidation following the execution of Louis XVI—Gauffier found solace in the sunlit streets and lush landscapes of Florence.
As he wandered through the Renaissance city, its terracotta rooftops glistening under the Tuscan sun, Gauffier's artistic spirit ignited. He transformed his brush from the grand narratives of history to a more intimate depiction of those who shaped the present. The market for portraits of the aristocracy thrived, each likeness set against the enchanting vistas characteristic of the region. The aristocrats, draped in elegance, became the stars of his new approach, rendered with an impressive flair that celebrated their status.
Yet, not all who stood before Gauffier's canvas were illustrious nobles. Enter Thomas Penrose, a man whose ambitions extended beyond art. With a sketchbook nestled under his arm, he wasn’t a painter by trade, nor did he possess the noble lineage of those who traditionally graced the portrait artist’s easel. Instead, Penrose served as the secretary to the English envoy to the Duke of Tuscany, navigating the complex waters of diplomacy. His aspirations sparkled with promise.
On a sun-kissed terrace of the Boboli Gardens, Penrose posed for Gauffier, surrounded by the picturesque beauty of Florence. The sprawling city unfolded beneath them, a canvas of life and ambition against which their own stories mingled. Gauffier, with a meticulous hand and a keen eye, captured not just the likeness of Penrose, but the very essence of his dreams. The portrait was finished with an astonishing degree of detail, each stroke echoing Penrose’s resolve to make his mark in a world of shifting tides.
As the painting came to life, so too did the vibrant dialogue between artist and subject. Here, amid the fragrant blooms and the rustle of leaves, the narrative of two different lives intertwined—the artist who had sought refuge and the diplomat who aimed for greatness. Gauffier and Penrose were joined in their pursuit of expression, creation, and the celebration of human endeavor.
In the heart of Florence, their stories flourished, resonating through time, reminding us all of the dreams that dance behind every painted face.
About the artist
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