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In 1816, only a few months after assuming the newly restored French throne, King Louis XVIII commissioned from several artists, including Anne-Louis Girodet, a series of posthumous full-length portraits of generals who had fought for the Royalist cause during the Revolution. The series included the portrait of Jacques Cathelineau (1759-1793) for which Girodet received the commission.
To ensure the accuracy of the posthumous portrait, Girodet painted the present bust-length portrait of Cathelineau's son, Jacques-Joseph (1785-1832). This sketch is full of vitality and character.
The final full-length portrait of the father was exhibited in the 1824 Salon.
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