Bust portrait of Charles-Louis Cadet de Gassicourt (1769-1821), pharmacist to Napoleon I

Péan du Pavillon employs a restrained palette, allowing the figure’s facial features and the texture of the fabric to emerge from the muted darkness. The brushwork is smooth, especially in rendering the subject’s curly brown hair and the subtle sheen of the vest, reflecting the academic portrait conventions of the Restoration era.

Completed shortly after the fall of Napoleon, the portrait entered the collection of the Château de Malmaison, where it has remained in situ. Its presence there underscores the estate’s role as a repository for objects linked to the Napoleonic household and its associates.

The painting belongs to a broader tradition of commemorating individuals who contributed to the imperial administration, particularly those in scientific and medical fields. By portraying Cadet de Gassicourt, the work highlights the importance of pharmacy and public health within the Napoleonic state apparatus.