LEBARBIER, Jean-Jacques-François
(b. 1738, Rouen, d. 1826, Paris)

Chasing Butterflies

1810
Oil on canvas, 113 x 146 cm
Private collection

This painting was exhibited at the Salon of 1810 where it was titled La chasse aux papillons, ou allégorie de la beauté qui veut fixer l’inconstance (Chasing butterflies or an allegory of beauty attempting to restrain inconstancy). The unusual subject can be related to an event in 1810: Napoleon had married Marie-Louise of Austria, only a few months after divorcing Empress Josephine who was unable to bear him an heir. The 'inconstancy' might be that of the Emperor himself.