Born in Aix, like C¨¦zanne who was his elder by ten years, Achille Emperaire was also an artist. The two men met in Charles Suisse's studio in Paris in the early 1860s and were close friends for at least a decade.C¨¦zanne often spoke fondly of the companion of his youth saying He's a very talented boy and nothing in the art of the Venetians has been lost on him. I have often seen him do as well! Unfortunately, out of money and luck, Achille Emperaire failed to establish a reputation and all that survives of him are a small number of rather spirited works.A contemporary reported that in the two charcoal sketches made before the painted portrait of Achille, we see a magnificent knight's head, in the style of Van Dyck , and sense a burning soul, nerves of steel, and iron pride in a misshapen body [...], a cross between Don Quixote and Prometheus. Title Achille Emperaire Creator Lifespan 1839 - 1906 Creator Nationality French Creator Gender Male Date Created 1867 - 1868 Provenance Gift of Mrs Ren¨¦ Lecomte and Mrs Louis de Chaisemartin, the daughter and granddaughter of Auguste Pellerin, 1964 Physical Dimensions w1200 x h2000 cm Painter Paul C¨¦zanne Credit Line ? RMN (Mus¨¦e d'Orsay) / Herv¨¦ Lewandowski Type Oil on canvas Rights ? RMN (Mus¨¦e d'Orsay) / Herv¨¦ Lewandowski
