Charles Landelle

Charles Landelle (1821–1908), French, Charles Zacharie Landelle, a French genre painter and portraitist, was born into a modest family in Laval on June 2, 1821, and passed away in Chennevières-sur-Marne on October 13, 1908. His marriage in 1857 to Alice Letronne, daughter of Jean-Antoine Letronne, who famously saved the National Archives in 1848, marked a significant personal milestone. The couple had two sons, Georges, who followed in his father's artistic footsteps as a painter and engraver, and Paul, both of whom predeceased their father. Landelle's early life saw him move to Paris in 1827, following his father's relocation, and it was there that he would spend the majority of his life, only returning to Laval in his later years.
Landelle's artistic journey began at the École des beaux-arts de Paris in 1837, where he studied under the tutelage of Paul Delaroche and Ary Scheffer. His early career was marked by portrait painting, a necessity to support himself, before his style evolved under the influence of Italian art, following travels in the South of France and Italy. His adeptness at capturing the essence of his subjects and his ability to adapt to the prevailing tastes of the time quickly earned him acclaim. By 1841, his talent was undeniable, with his first exhibited work, a self-portrait, catching the eye of Louis-Philippe and earning him a medal at the Salon. Landelle's career flourished as he became a sought-after official painter, balancing state commissions with portraits of the era's elite, all while maintaining his reputation through strategic generosity to his patrons.