Exhibition: Revealing Édouard Manet’s Portrait of Monsieur Jules Dejouy

National Museum Cardiff proudly presents one of the most significant late portraits by the renowned artist Édouard Manet. This captivating portrait, created at the peak of Manet’s career, depicts his cousin Jules Dejouy, a successful lawyer and a key figure in Manet’s life.

The Story Behind the Painting

Édouard Manet was a revolutionary figure in the 19th-century French art world. His bold defiance of classical painting techniques and his choice to depict modern life made him a pivotal artist in the transition from Realism to Impressionism.

After Manet’s father died in 1862, the artist’s cousin Jules Dejouy took on the role of ‘chief counsellor and guide’ in his life. Dejouy gave his cousin financial support and let Manet use his house in the countryside near Paris as a base for visiting fellow artists, including Claude Monet.

In 1884, the year of the artist’s death, Dejouy helped organise a retrospective exhibition of Manet’s work at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris, where this remarkable portrait was featured.

Conservation and Unveiling

After more than ninety years in private hands, Manet’s Portrait of Monsieur Jules Dejouy was acquired by Amgueddfa Cymru in 2019.

Thanks to support from the TEFAF Museum Restoration Fund, The Finnis Scott Foundation and the Friends of National Museum Wales, the work has now been restored by Amgueddfa Cymru conservation experts.

Don’t miss this opportunity to explore the fascinating world of Manet and experience the restored Portrait of Monsieur Jules Dejouy. Visit our exhibition today!