This portrait is of Alexandre-Louis Leloir’s grandfather, the artist Alexandre-Marie Colin (1798–1875). Colin also sat for his portrait around the same time by Alexandre Louis’ mother, the artist Héloïse Suzanne Colin (1820–1873) and Alexandre-Louis’ aunt Anaïs Toudouze (1822-1899), also an artist. Héloïse’s drawing is signed but not dated but Anaïs’s is dated October 1863. Alexandre-Marie Colin would have been 64 at the time.

Leloir was a pupil of his grandfather, the artist Alexandre-Marie Colin (1798–1875) before entering the École des Beaux-Arts, where he showed precocious talent, winning the Second Prix de Rome in 1861 and again in1864. Though celebrated early for his ambitious biblical and historical canvases, he increasingly devoted himself to genre painting, drawing inspiration from medieval and 17th century interiors, Dutch models, and Orientalist themes. His works were regularly exhibited at the Paris Salon,earning him medals and, in 1876, the title of Chevalier of the Legion of Honour. He was also among the founders of the Société des Aquarellistes Français in 1879. The present works offer not only an intimate record of Leloir’s creative process but also a vivid portrayal of an extraordinary artistic dynasty, preserved here in drawings of striking immediacy.