ALEXANDRE LOUIS-MARIE CHARPENTIER (1856-1909) Portrait relief of Emile Zola (1840-1902) Bronze, 7 1/2 x 5 1/2 inches Signed and dated March 19, 1898
HIS portrait of Zola was executed just two months after he published his famous letter, J'accuse...! in the periodical L'Aurore. Addressed to President Felix Faure the missive attacked the French military establishment for fabricating charges of treason against Captain Alfred Dreyfus. Shortly before this portrait was made, Zola himself had been charged with slandering Dreyfus's accusers and had to flee to London for a year to avoid imprisonment. Due in part to Zola's courageous letter, Dreyfus subsequently was cleared of all charges. Another example of this plaque hangs in Zola's house at Medun. $3500
HIS portrait of Zola was executed just two months after he published his famous letter, J'accuse...! in the periodical L'Aurore. Addressed to President Felix Faure the missive attacked the French military establishment for fabricating charges of treason against Captain Alfred Dreyfus. Shortly before this portrait was made, Zola himself had been charged with slandering Dreyfus's accusers and had to flee to London for a year to avoid imprisonment. Due in part to Zola's courageous letter, Dreyfus subsequently was cleared of all charges. Another example of this plaque hangs in Zola's house at Medun.