French 19th Century Genre Scene in an 18th Century Interior, Signed “Monfallet” and Dated 1853, Oil on Canvas.

Details

Description

Lively and theatrical genre scene attributed to Adolphe François Monfallet (Bordeaux 1816 – Neuilly-Plaisance 1900), a documented 19th century French … Read more Lively and theatrical genre scene attributed to Adolphe François Monfallet (Bordeaux 1816 – Neuilly-Plaisance 1900), a documented 19th century French painter known for historical and genre scenes inspired by 17th and 18th century life.
The composition depicts an animated group of figures dressed in Baroque / Rococo period costumes, gathered within an elegant interior featuring a fireplace, shelves, and period furnishings. At the center, a male figure lies on the floor, surrounded by women and men engaged in expressive gestures, suggesting a humorous or dramatic narrative. The scene is rendered with a strong sense of theatrical staging, dynamic movement, and carefully observed costume details.

Such subjects are characteristic of Monfallet’s oeuvre, who specialized in genre scenes set in historical interiors, often with playful or anecdotal undertones. His background as a ballet dancer and later régisseur at the Paris Opéra is reflected in the dramatic mise-en-scène, expressive poses, and costume-driven storytelling.
The painting is signed and dated “Monfallet 1853”, consistent with the artist’s early Salon period, during which he exhibited regularly in Paris from 1850 onwards.

Artist Information
Adolphe François Monfallet
French School, 19th Century
Born 1816, Bordeaux – Died 1900, Neuilly-Plaisance

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Monfallet studied under Michel Drolling, François Édouard Picot, and Adolphe Yvon, and exhibited at the Paris Salon between 1850 and 1882. He was a member of the Société des Artistes Français and is recorded in contemporary French art dictionaries as a painter of history, genre scenes, and interiors. See less