Boilly. Parisian Chronicles
A virtuosic and prolific artist in a class of his own, Louis-Léopold Boilly (1761-1845) was the enthusiastic chronicler of Parisian life for sixty years, spanning a period from one revolution to the dawn of the next (1789 and 1848). In addition to being a portraitist for the Parisians and a painter of city scenes, Boilly was also the inventor of stunning trompe-l’œil and the author of witty caricatures.
This monographic exhibition explores Boilly’s productive career through a selection of 130 works, giving us a glimpse into the artist’s uniqueness, brilliance, humour and inventiveness. It presents several previously unseen masterpieces, some of which have never been shown in France.
Born in the North of France, Boilly set out to win over the capital at the age of 24, in 1785. He would live there his whole life. Taking little interest in the grand history of Paris, he instead became fascinated by the city’s modernity, its hustle and bustle, and its many spectacles. As a true chronicler of everyday life, Boilly painted an intimate portrait of his generation.
The artist developed a fondness for scrutinising the views and faces he came across in the city. He distinguished himself in the art of portraiture by capturing the faces of Parisians on the small formats that would become his trademark. The portraitist was also a keen caricaturist who looked at his fellow citizens with an amused, and perhaps even scathing, eye. His taste for provocation and technical proficiency can also be found in his stunningly illusionistic trompe-l’œil.
The exhibition also showcases the subtle tricks the artist employed to depict himself in his works. In addition to painting derisive self-portraits and using a variety of signatures, he also slid his likeness amongst the protagonists of his crowd scenes, just as Alfred Hitchcock did in his films. These stratagems establish a knowing relationship between the artist and viewer. Throughout the exhibition, visitors are taken along on a fun treasure hunt to find Boilly’s face or clues of his presence.
Louis-Léopold Boilly (1761-1845), Trompe-l'œil aux cartes et pièces de monnaie (détail), vers 1808-1815
Lille, Palais des Beaux-Arts
Louis-Léopold Boilly (1761-1845), L’Entrée du théâtre de l’Ambigu-Comique à une représentation gratis (détail), 1819
Paris, Musée du Louvre, Département des Peintures, Legs Mr Georges Heine
Louis-Léopold Boilly (1761-1845), Deux jeunes amies qui s’embrassent (détail), vers 1789-1793
Grande-Bretagne, The Ramsbury Foundation
Louis-Léopold Boilly (1761-1845), Le Passage de la planche (détail), vers 1810-1814
Paris, Musée du Louvre, Département des Peintures, Don Mme Albert Lehmann
Louis-Léopold Boilly (1761-1845), Après le souper (détail), après 1830
Étienne Bréton, Saint-Honoré Art Consulting, Paris
Louis-Léopold Boilly (1761-1845), L’Arrivée d’une diligence dans la cour des Messageries, 1803
Paris, musée du Louvre
Louis-Léopold Boilly, Le Chat gourmand crevant la toile pour manger des harengs (détail), vers 1800-1805
Collection Farida et Henri Seydoux, Paris
Louis-Léopold Boilly, Distribution de vin et de comestibles aux Champs-Elysées à l'occasion de la fête du roi (détail), 1822
Paris, musée Carnavalet - Histoire de Paris
Louis-Léopold Boilly, Un trompe-l'œil (détail), vers 1800
Collection particulière
Louis-Léopold Boilly (1761-1845), Le Spectacle ambulant de Polichinelle, 1832
Grande-Bretagne, The Ramsbury Foundation
Louis-Léopold Boilly, Le Doux réveil
Paris, musée Cognacq-Jay
Louis-Léopold Boilly (1761-1845), Scène du carnaval, 1832
Grande-Bretagne, The Ramsbury Foundation
Louis-Léopold Boilly, La Descente d'escalier, vers 1800
Paris, musée Cognacq-Jay
Louis-Léopold Boilly (1761-1845), Réunion d’artistes dans l’atelier d’Isabey, vers 1798
Paris, Musée du Louvre, Département des Peintures, Legs Biesta-Monrival
Organised as a follow-up to the publication of Etienne Bréton and Pascal Zuber’s catalogue raisonné of the artist’s work (Arthena publishing house, 2019), the exhibition will be an opportunity to discover several masterpieces never before shown in France and loaned by prestigious private collections, including one of the largest, currently held by the Ramsbury Manor Foundation (United Kingdom).
Prior booking online is highly recommended for all visitors.
General curatorship
- Annick Lemoine, director of the musée Cognacq-Jay
- Sixtine de Saint-Léger, assistant curator for the musée Cognacq-Jay
Scientific board
- Étienne Bréton, art historian and director of a consultancy and art appraisal firm
- Pascal Zuber, art historian and director of a consultancy and art appraisal firm
Étienne Bréton and Pascal Zuber are the authors of the catalogue raisonné Boilly, Le peintre de la société parisienne de Louis XVI à Louis-Philippe (Paris, Arthena publishing house, 2019).
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