Jean COSSARD (Troyes, 1764 - Paris, 1838 ) Presumed portrait of Louis-Joseph Marchand (1791-1876), first valet to Emperor Napoleon I Watercolour and gum arabic on ivory, oval form Signed and dated 'Cossard / 1812' lower left CIC n° 2024/BE01903/CE Gilt bronze frame with laurel decoration Inscribed 'Marchand / Valet de Chambre de l'Empereur / Cossard / 1812' on the reverse Presumed portrait of Louis-Joseph Marchand (1791-1876), first valet to Emperor Napoleon I, watercolour and gum arabic on ivory, signed and dated, by J. Cossard 4.01 x 3.18 in. 10.2 x 8.1 cm Provenance: Anonymous sale; Troyes, Boisseau-Pomez SARL, 29 January 2011, no. 248 ; Pierre Jourdan-Barry Collection (1926-2016); Then by descent; Private collection, Belgium We feel that the identification of the model and the date on the mounting on the back should be restored here. Nevertheless, we would point out that in 1812 Louis-Joseph Marchand had been a flat boy in the imperial household for just one year, a position of no great importance that probably did not justify having his portrait painted. It was not until the abdication of 1814 that he was chosen by Marshal Bertrand to replace Constant, the first valet, who had fled. He then accompanied Napoleon to Elba and never left his side until he closed his eyes on St Helena. Jean COSSARD (Troyes, 1764 - Paris, 1838 ) 10.2 x 8.1 cm We feel that the identification of the model and the date on the mounting on the back should be restored here. Nevertheless, we would point out that in 1812 Louis-Joseph Marchand had been a flat boy in the imperial household for just one year, a position of no great importance that probably did not justify having his portrait painted. It was not until the abdication of 1814 that he was chosen by Marshal Bertrand to replace Constant, the first valet, who had fled. He then accompanied Napoleon to Elba and never left his side until he closed his eyes on St Helena.