Alfred de Dreux (1810-1860)
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Alfred de Dreux specialized in equestrian and dog paintings, and was himself a frequent horse rider and hunter. He was a Parisian gentleman and social figure who died tragically after being challenged to a duel.
In his childhood, de Dreux met with fellow painter Theodore Gericault who was a friend of the family. It was at Gericault’s studio that he learned to paint and also cultivated a love for horse riding and painting equestrian portraits.
De Dreux was also known to create paintings of not just French and English nobility on horseback, but “oriental” nobility and other cultures as well.
At the age of 21, de Dreux had his first exhibition of his horse paintings that was met with great success. He became famous for his series of equestrian portraits and was often commissioned by nobility and high society figures.
De Dreux’s style can be easily noted by his talent for creating beautiful landscapes, noble poses and always a hunting or equestrian theme. He painted in the Classical style and was not known to create a great number of portraits, still life or landscapes which did not incorporate a four legged animal.
Today his work is housed all over France and Europe, including in the Louvre, as well as in the United States, Russia and Mexico. He was quite prolific and popular throughout his entire career, so the possibility of owning one of his exquisite oil paintings or prints is very likely. However, his style was so similar to fellow painter and teacher Gericault that it would truly take the work of an authenticator to distinguish between the two.
If you suspect you own a work by De Dreux, please contact us.
