Musée d’Orsay · 1856
The Congress of Paris
Edouard Louis Dubufe
Dubufe paints the diplomats who gathered in Paris to formally end the Crimean War, arranging dozens of real, individually recognizable statesmen around a table in strict order of official rank and protocol.
Why it matters
Dubufe paints the diplomats who gathered in Paris to formally end the Crimean War, arranging dozens of real, individually recognizable statesmen around a table in strict order of official rank and protocol.
Look closer
Notice the small bust of Emperor Napoleon III on the mantelpiece — even though he wasn't present at the actual signing, Dubufe includes him as a symbolic presence overseeing the historic agreement made in his own city.
Every single figure in this enormous painting is an accurate portrait of a real diplomat who attended — Dubufe had to carefully research and match each man's face and rank before he could even begin arranging the composition.
Value context
ELYIO places this work in an indicative editorial context of €null–null million.
The museum work is not for sale. This is ELYIO indicative context—not an appraisal, insurance value or offer.