1909 Self Portrait by Jean-Louis-Ernest Meissonier,

This vintage 1909 postcard features "Self Portrait" by Jean-Louis-Ernest Meissonier, a celebrated 19th-century French painter known for his meticulous historical and military scenes. The portrait, painted in 1889, presents Meissonier in a contemplative pose, showcasing his mastery of detail and refined technique.

The artwork was purchased in 1890 by Alfred Chauchard, a prominent French department store magnate and art patron, for the then-unprecedented price of 850,000 francs—one of the highest sums ever paid to a living artist. Upon Chauchard's death in 1909, the painting was bequeathed to the Louvre Museum, where it remained until 1986. That year, the piece was transferred to the newly established Musée d'Orsay, which became home to France’s premier collection of 19th-century art.

This postcard not only commemorates Meissonier’s legacy but also marks an important chapter in the history of French art collecting and museum curation.

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