Léon-Jean-Basile Perrault (French, 1832-1908), Un Petit Sou

Oil on canvas, 1874, signed and dated at right, framed.

Stretcher size 42 x 29 in.; Frame dimensions 48 1/4 x 34 1/2 in.

Private Collection, Columbus, North Carolina

Léon-Jean-Basile Perrault was a French academic painter known for his romanticized and highly detailed depictions of children, mythological scenes, and historical subjects. Born in Poitiers, France, he studied at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris under the mentorship of William-Adolphe Bouguereau, whose influence is evident in Perrault’s polished technique and idealized portrayals of the human form. His paintings, often sentimental and meticulously rendered, appealed to the tastes of 19th-century collectors and were regularly exhibited at the Paris Salon.

Poor condition; in need of professional conservation and restoration.