Jean-Paul LAURENS (Fourquevaux, 1838 - Paris, 1921) Three studies for the illustration of Récits des temps Mérovingiens by Augustin Thierry, Paris, 1881: Les Ambassadeurs / Les funérailles de Chlodowig Three oil paintings mounted in the same frame (Original canvases) Signed 'J. P. Laurens' at the bottom 41.5 x 32.5 cm, 40.5 x 27 cm and 40.5 x 32.5 cm Together with the frame: 47 x 100 cm Provenance: Former collection of Paul Riff (1858-1929) ; Its sale, Rennes, Rennes auctions, 1 April 2012, n° 43 ; Acquired at this sale by the current owner In 1877, the publishers Hachette were looking for an artist to illustrate a new edition of Augustin Thierry's Récits des temps Mérovingiens. They turned to Jean-Paul Laurens, who, although not yet a specialist illustrator, had already worked on the theme of the Middle Ages when decorating the Panthéon. Our artist produced a large number of studies, drawn or painted for this commission. Our set of three oil paintings is a fine example of his early pictorial research. In the end, forty-two drawings were selected to illustrate the text. Jean-Paul LAURENS (Fourquevaux, 1838 - Paris, 1921) In 1877, the publishers Hachette were looking for an artist to illustrate a new edition of Augustin Thierry's Récits des temps Mérovingiens. They turned to Jean-Paul Laurens, who, although not yet a specialist illustrator, had already worked on the theme of the Middle Ages when decorating the Panthéon. Our artist produced a large number of studies, drawn or painted for this commission. Our set of three oil paintings is a fine example of his early pictorial research. In the end, forty-two drawings were selected to illustrate the text.