Collection Online
The hired assassins

The hired assassins
(Les Bravi)
1852

Medium
oil on canvas

Measurements
40.4 × 33.1 cm

Credit Line
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Purchased, 1914

Gallery location
Not on display

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About this work

Meissonier painted two known variations of this composition which are actually smaller than this version. In his lifetime, such small theatrical paintings were thought to be his masterpieces in which he captured in minutae the finest detail of historical costume and other objects.

Artwork Details

Inscription
inscribed in brown paint l.l.: EM (monogram) . 52

Accession Number
761-2

Department
International Painting

This digital record has been made available on NGV Collection Online through the generous support of Digitisation Champion Ms Carol Grigor through Metal Manufactures Limited

Subjects (general)
Human Figures Violence

Subjects (specific)
assassins jerkins (jackets) men (male humans) murderers murders (deaths) panelling scenes (depictions) swords

Provenance
Collection of George Sutherland Esq., by 1913; from whom purchased, using a Government grant, on the advice of Bernard Hall, 13 October 1913, accessioned 1914.

Frame

Frame Details

Framemaker
Unknown - 19th century

Materials

gilded composition ornament on a timber profile

Dimensions

64.5 x 57 x 12.5 cm