Jacques De Lalaing Autoportrait présumé Vers 1895 Épreuve sur papier albuminé H. 12,6 ; L. 8,8 cm © Musée d’Orsay, Dist. RMN-Grand Palais / Patrice Schmidt
Jacques De Lalaing Autoportrait présumé Vers 1895 Épreuve sur papier albuminé H. 12,6 ; L. 8,8 cm © Musée d’Orsay, Dist. RMN-Grand Palais / Patrice Schmidt 
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Backstage at Jacques de Lalaing’s studio

28/09/2022 - 05/03/2023

Musée d'Orsay 
1, rue de la Légion d'Honneur 
 
75007 Paris

www.musee-orsay.fr/   

 
The Belgian painter and sculptor Jacques de Lalaing built an abundant body of work governed by academic codes. He made intensive – and confidential – use of photography, and to ensure he had a record of his works, he used the services of renowned Brussels photographers. To build up a repertory of images as a later source of inspiration, he collected “Academies”, produced for artists by Parisian photographers and publishers.
Lalaing was also the author of thousands of photos taken in his vast Brussels studio. Here, he staged his subjects facing the camera: celebrities whose portrait he had been commissioned to paint, professional models, children and animals selected to inspire a future composition. Used as a simple work tool, these photos served as preparatory sketches before adjusting the décor, producing a charcoal or plaster study, and finally creating the painting or sculpture.