HORACE VERNET | Portrait of Jean-Georges Schickler, chief of the Basel canton squadron

Salon, Paris, 1827, registered n°2102 "Portrait du général Schickle" (sic), 1.5 x 1.5 m (size with frame); n°1031 of the salon catalogue.

Horace Vernet's account book : "28 février 1827. Reçu de Mr Schickler pour son portrait-2000"
Armand Dayot, Les Vernet, Paris, 1898, p. 207 ;
Claudine Renaudeau, Horace Vernet, Chronologie et catalogue raisonné de l'oeuvre peint, Thesis, Paris IV University, December 1999, Volume 1, p. 288, n°258, and illustrated Volume 2, p. 707, n°258

- The painting is in very good overall condition. - It is unlined. - The canvas is sane and stable and is slightly crinkled in the corners. - The paint layer is well preserved and has neither lack, nor paint lift visible. The cracks are thin, not too marked. - The paint layer and the varnish are dirty, and there are some superficial dirt spots on the right, on the horse's head, as well as on the back of the right leg. - One repainted part seems to appear in the upper left corner. - The varnish is yellow and dirty. - With the UV light : a tiny retouching on the subject's sabre. - Probably in its original wooden frame.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Jean-Georges Schickler (1785-1843) was born in a powerful protestant family of bankers, established at the end of the XVIII^th century in the Baden province, in Switzerland and also in Berlin and in France. He lived in France and bought the Hôtel Crozat on the place Vendôme in 1828 (see lot 61). He married his cousin, Davida Schickler (see lot 161), and had several children, including Malvina (1822-1877) later Duchess of Albufera, Georgina (1819-1849) later Countess Edgard de Choiseul-Praslin and Arthur de Schickler (1828-1919), who married Jeanne-Roger (See lot 55). Their daughter, Marguerite de Schickler, married Count Hubert de Pourtalès in 1890.


Jean-Georges Schickler is depicted here with the squadron leader's uniform from the Basel province. The great sobriety of the cloudy background, from which emerges the chestnut horse, gives the composition something mysterious and yet soft. One will recognise Gros' style in the velvet rendering of the face.




Horace Vernet was familiar with Schickler who was a patron and a collector. They had in common the passion for hunting and for horses. The Baron commissioned several works from the painter, and invited him to his soirées and to his hunting parties (Cf. Claudine Renaudeau op.cit. p. 228).

A miniature showing Jean-Georges Schickler in 1822 is in the sale, lot 160.