2-738-579 - Heritage Art/Heritage Images

Portrait of Violinist Jean Vidal (1789-1867), 1808. This portrait was commissioned to commemorate the first musical triumph of the 19-year-old violinist Jean Vidal, upon his graduation from the Conservatoire de Musique, Paris. The young musician’s direct gaze and confident swagger are echoed by the artist’s superlative draftsmanship. The portrait celebrates the youthful bravado of the musician as well as the artist; Auger was only 21 years old when he made the drawing.