ROLAND DE LA PORTE, Henri-Horace

(b. 1724 Paris, d. 1793 Paris)

Henri-Horace Roland de la Porte (also spelt Henri-Horace-Roland Delaporte or de la Porte), French painter. He was a pupil of Jean-Baptiste Oudry and was approved (agréé) by the Académie Royale de Peinture et de Sculpture in 1761 as a ‘painter of animals and fruit’. He presented his morceau de réception, the ambitious Vase of Lapis, Ornamented with Bronze and Placed near a Globe (Paris, Louvre), in 1763. This large painting is reminiscent of Oudry’s work and depicts a collection of sumptuous objects against a simple cloth backdrop.

Roland de la Porte’s later works are much more intimate in scale and approach and depict simple rustic objects in a restrained yet realistic fashion in a manner akin to Chardin, for whose works his own have been mistaken. In fact, his brushwork is dryer and more meticulous than Chardin’s. Roland de la Porte followed his illustrious rival in choosing everyday objects. The same is true for the light source, which comes from the upper left-hand side, and throws the objects into relief, highlighting them against an indistinct background. His still-lifes brought the rococo paradox - the suggestion of messiness and informality accomplished with meticulous technique - to its zenith.

Still-Life with Basket of Grapes and Bottle of Wine

When creating intimate still-lifes of fruit and nuts, this painter’s style closely approaches the classical simplicity of the late works of Chardin. In the present still-life, which may have been intended as part of a set of four canvases, the basket, overflowing with plump, sweet white grapes with a small bunch of black grapes to right and left, has been shifted slightly in position, being balanced by a tall green glass bottle, three-quarters full of wine placed firmly on the left. The profiles of the two plump ripe pears laid between the left and right elements have been lowered to open the central space. The painting illustrates Roland’s highly developed skills and explain how, at his best, he has been confused with Chardin.

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Still-Life with a Carafe of Barley Wine

This painting is called ‘La petite collation’. Roland de la Porte was a contemporary of Chardin and he painted simple still-lifes in Chardin’s style. This still-life, set in front of a neutral background, is very close to the compositions of Chardin.

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