Godefroy (Adrien Pierre)

Paris, Chez Martinet, c.1815.
an early 19th century French social satire, a common tableau composition of figures in a line, the two central ones of a young woman with arms raised, beside a youth in an ill-fitting coat and hat, both facing the viewer, with two other young women standing in profile to either side, facing each other with arms outstretched in greeting, all three women in fashionable, high-collared, and tight-waisted long dresses, and compact bonnets of various designs. With reference to the title, it is difficult not to notice the protruding chins of the side figures and plump cheeks of the central one, alongside the ungainly youth, that hint at a lack of grace attending to those who seek out fashion in the rival capital of London..
210 by 275mm (8¼ by 10¾ inches).