CLAUDE ARNULPHI (1697-1786) Portrait of Monseigneur Paul Alpheran de Bussan Canvas Signed on a note placed on a work table held up by the Bishop of Malta with the index finger of his left hand the bishop of Malta with the index finger of his left hand "Peint par C. ARNULPHY With the inscription "Fra Paolo Alpheran Vescovo di Malta". Claude Arnulphy born in Lyon in 1697 and died in Aix-en-Provence 22 June 1786 134 x 98 cm (some missing parts) The painting has a magnificent carved wooden frame in the Louis XV style from the 18th century. Provencal work MONSEIGNEUR PAUL ALPHERAN was born on 28 October 1686 in Aix-en-Provence and baptised in the cathedral of Cathedral. Prior of Saint-Jean de Malte following his appointed by Master Zondodari on 13 June 1720. He was appointed Bishop of Malta on 15 October 1727 by the Emperor Charles VI. The ceremony was celebrated in the chapel of Chapel in the Vatican by Pope Benedict XIII on 14 March 1728. He was then appointed by Pope Benedict XIV as Archbishop of Damietta in Syria. He died in his episcopal palace in Malta on palace in Malta on 20 April 1757 and was buried in the underground chapel of his church for the burial of bishops. An autograph letter from Claude Alpheran de Bussan living in Aix in Aix sent to his brother Paul Alpheran dated 18 October 1741 mentions that the large portrait of his brother had had just arrived by galleon and specifies that this portrait will be installed in the largest salon in Puyricard. Since For almost 300 years, it has never been moved: "Your portrait is well painted, the face in particular is beautiful and resembling you. I recognise you there and I am determined to proscribe all the others that I showed with difficulty. I am going to work on a rich and tasteful border. After which I will place this portrait at the back of a well ornate salon. It is the most distinguished place I can give you in my home. in my home, it is also the one you deserve and the one I owe you in every way, dear brother. CLAUDE ARNULPHI (1697-1786) Pupil of his father in Aix en Provence then in Rome in the the Benedettoluti studio, which also trained another Aix painter painter Jean-Baptiste Van Loo. In 1722, he settled in Aix en Provence where the community commissioned 6 portraits of the counts of Provence for the Etats Généraux room on the first floor of the town hall (Dandré Bardon was involved in the decoration). He became the favourite portrait painter of aristocratic society in aristocratic society in Aix, his clients included the very rich and famous Marquis de Gueidan and painted two large portraits for him for his his salons in his private mansion on the Cours Mirabeau. of his son Pierre Claude Secret as a knight in 1735 and of his daughters of his daughters Polyxène-Julie and Anne-Adélaïde in 1743. Bequest from the last descendant of the de Gueidan family, these two are now in the Musée Granet in Aix. In 1765, he was appointed professor of painting at the school of created by the Governor of Provence, the Duc de Villars. Villars.