One of the most ambitious compositions ever produced by Adolphe Alexandre Lesrel, Les Mousquetaires du Roi captures a sumptuous royal gathering at the heart of a 17th Century castle interior. A triumph of detail, theatricality, and historicism, this monumental canvas stages a moment of exuberant celebration as costumed musketeers, musicians, courtiers, and soldiers animate a richly decorated great hall.

Lesrel’s talent for narrative is in full command here: a trumpet player serenades a richly dressed noblewoman, musicians in vibrant uniforms keep time, and a group of officers lean over a green-draped table to gamble at dice. In the shadows, a mounted suit of armor stands guard beneath a canopy of banners, lances, and heraldic shields. Through the gothic arches at right, a soldier stands beside a large wheeled cannon, its barrel visible just beyond the stone balcony, with a castle visible in the distance. This glimpse of martial preparedness contrasts with the interior revelry. The painting is signed and dated in the lower left “A. A. LESREL 1885.”

This painting is a rare example of Lesrel’s large-format historical tableaux, which are dramatically less common than his more frequently encountered small and medium-sized easel works. The composition exemplifies Lesrel’s fascination with early modern ceremonial pageantry, capturing both grandeur and intimacy in equal measure.

About the Artist: Adolphe Alexandre Lesrel (French, 1839-1929) was a leading figure of the French academic genre painting tradition, best known for his intricately detailed depictions of 17th and 18th Century costume scenes. He studied under Jean-Léon Gérôme and Jean Louis Ernest Meissonier, whose influence is evident in Lesrel’s jewel-like surface precision and narrative intensity. He exhibited regularly at the Paris Salon and achieved commercial success on both sides of the Atlantic. His paintings are held in numerous private collections and institutions internationally.

Market Rarity and Value: Lesrel’s large format paintings, especially those over 4 feet in either dimension, appear infrequently at auction. Most works by the artist measure under 30 inches in either dimension and contain far fewer figures. This example at nearly 48 inches wide and over 34 inches tall presents one of the artist’s most ambitious narrative compositions, with over two dozen characters rendered in exquisite detail. Paintings of this scale and visual complexity are markedly rare in the artists oeuvre. Over the past decade, at least four comparable large-scale works have sold at major international auction houses for between $90,000 and $155,000, underscoring the rarity and collectability of examples of this scale and ambition.

Condition and Framing: This painting is in very good condition, with a clean and stable surface, rich original coloration, and fine brushwork preserved througout There is faint, stabilized craquelure consistent with age. The painting measures 34 5/8” x 47 9/16” (nearly 3’ high x 4’ wide) and with the amazing gilt frame measures 47” x 59” (nearly 4’ high x 5’ wide). The frame itself is approximately 6 1/2” wide and 6” deep. This is an extremely heavy frame and must be reinforced when hanging. The painting and frame are in very good condition. The painting has some craquelure, which is typical with age. The outside corners of the frame have had some losses and minor repair. The painting is ready to hang.

This item includes FREE Shipping in the Continental United States, and will be placed in a wooden crate for shipping, with a blanket wrap or freight shipper. International shipping is possible, but would be handled through a fine art shipping company at buyer’s full cost.