Portrait of Baron Charles Athanase Walckenaer - Antoine François Piéri-Bénard

A formal lithographic portrait of the French scientist and academic Baron Charles Athanase Walckenaer by Antoine François Piéri-Bénard.

This lithographic portrait depicts Baron Charles Athanase Walckenaer (1771-1852), a French scientist, entomologist, and man of letters. The print is the work of Antoine François Piéri-Bénard, a French lithographer active during the early nineteenth century. The composition follows the conventions of formal portraiture from the period, focusing on the bust of the subject against a neutral, vignetted background. The artist employs fine, controlled strokes to render the texture of the Baron's coat and the soft modelling of his features.

Below the portrait, the print includes formal typography identifying the sitter and his affiliations, including his membership in the Institut Royal de France and the Académie des Inscriptions et Belles-lettres. The inclusion of such text is characteristic of nineteenth-century portrait prints, which often served as frontispieces for academic publications or as commemorative records for members of the French intellectual elite. The lithographic technique allows for a subtle range of grey tones, providing a sense of depth and realism without the heavy contrast found in earlier engraving methods.

Charles Athanase Walckenaer was a significant figure in the scientific community of his time, particularly known for his work on spiders and his geographical studies. This portrait captures the formal dignity expected of a man of his standing. The print remains a clean example of the portraiture style that dominated French academic circles during the Restoration and the July Monarchy. The focus is entirely on the sitter, with the surrounding text providing the necessary historical context for his career and public life. This piece offers a clear view into the visual culture of French intellectual life in the early nineteenth century.