Joseph had a hard but colourful youth in the Drôme area of France, caused by the early death of his parents. Prior to beginning his training in Marseilles in 1853, he was a shepherd. His talent for painting was quickly recognised and he was awarded his first scholarship of eight hundred francs by the Drôme General Council in 1855 "considering that this young man gave evidence of a strong vocation for painting". His talent was demonstrated in a copy of Géricault's painting "The Raft of the Medusa", which the General Council offered to the Museum of Valencia, where it is still located today.
He was a pupil of Henri Loubon in Marseille, then of Léon Cogniet and Tony Robert-Fleury in Paris, he participated for the first time in the Paris Salon in 1859 and obtained an Honourable Mention in 1861 with a work recalling his youth in the Drôme, "Le Shepherd of the Alps". But it was in 1863 that his artistic career began when he received the First Grand Prix of Rome.
During his stay in Rome 1864 -1870, he painted several historical subjects but soon specialised in portraiture. Joseph considered his stay at the Villa Medici as "the most beautiful time of his life". He extended it by one year, and, working hard, he took advantage of this opportunity by producing numerous drawings, studies and copies of paintings, notably on commission from Napoleon III. It was also there that he produced his first large painting, "Le Portrait of Liszt" and later a very large work, "Brigands and captives", currently in the Melbourne Museum.
On his return to Paris, he participated in the Paris Salon, winning a second medal in 1872 and was awarded Bronze medals at both the 1889 and 1900 Universal Exhibitions. Knight of the Legion of Honour come in 1890, he was later raised to the rank of Officer.
Joseph consolidated his reputation as a portraitist, and in Portugal, where he stayed, he painted portraits of the royal family in 1874. Of his stays in Portugal and Spain he brought back many sketches, watercolours and studies of landscapes. In Portugal he met Pauline Saunier who left her husband in Lisbon to be with him.
In 1892, Joseph became a professor at the Academy of Fine Arts in Valenciennes and he lived there with Pauline until his death in 1913. He remained a much sought after portraitist. Among his works are many portraits of his companion Pauline Saunier, a portrait of Gambetta which he exhibited at the Salon de 1904, as well as portraits of notables from Valenciennes which he exhibited at the 1906 and 1908 Salons. His last listed painting, "La réception d'un Prix de Rome en la Cité", was exhibited at the Salon of 1913.
We are delighted to have found this lovely 'Portrait d'une Dame' in France and have added her to our collection for sale. Could this portrait be of Pauline Saunier who Joseph met in Portugal? A similar painting to this by Joseph is 'Portrait de femme au chapeau a Plume' and the woman in that painting looks to be the same as in this one.
NOW SOLD