Attributed to Alexandre-Marie COLIN (Paris 1798-1875) - Lot 76

Attributed to Alexandre-Marie COLIN (Paris 1798-1875) Portrait of Claude-Antoine Prieur-Duvernois, known as "Prieur de la Côte d'Or". Pastel. 21.5 x 17.3 cm A similar portrait by Alexandre-Marie Colin is known to exist at the École Polytechnique Historical Resources Center. This larger portrait was produced in 1864 for a commission delivered in 1865, the aim being to depict in medallions portraits of people who played an important part in the founding of the École. Our pastel, of fine quality and less cold than the portrait preserved at Polytechnique, probably executed in the 1830s, must have served as a model for Alexandre-Marie Colin. Claude-Antoine Prieur-Duvernois, known as "Prieur de la Côte d'Or", born December 22, 1763 in Auxonne and died August 11, 1832 in Dijon, was a French engineering officer and politician. He played a crucial role during the French Revolution, notably by voting for the King's death. He was also one of the co-founders of the École Polytechnique. He was also instrumental in the adoption of the metric system and decimal calculation in France in April 1795. He retired from public life following Napoleon's coup d'état in 1799.