# musee d'orsay

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musee-dorsay/7518>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [February 18, 2000, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musee-dorsay/7518 "2000-02-18T19:58:00Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![ellis555](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e36b37/32.png) [@ellis555](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ellis555)\
**Post date:** [February 18, 2000, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musee-dorsay/7518/1 "2000-02-18T19:58:00Z")

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seeing these other art threads reminded me of a portrait i saw in the musee d’orsay two years ago. the problem is, i can’t for the life of me remember who it was by. i’m fairly positive it wasn’t a “big name” (monet, manet, renoir, etc.), but beyond that, i’m at a loss.

```
hence my question: can anyone help me identify it? a web site through which i could browse (the best i've been able to find is [http://www.smartweb.fr/orsay/](http://www.smartweb.fr/orsay/) but most of the image links are broken) or any hints on possible artist would be much appreciated.

here's as much as i can remember:

```

1. portrait of a white male, 20-40 yr.s old, showing no more than the upper torso and head
2. fairly small canvas, i’d estimate no more than a yard/meter in any dimension
3. no bright colors - dark hair, dark clothes, dark lighting
4. i believe it was in a room on the middle level, either in the same room or near a room that housed a copy of degas’ “petite danseuse”

not a whole lot to go on, i know. but i have faith in the teeming millions

thanks  
-ellis

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**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\
**Post date:** [February 18, 2000, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musee-dorsay/7518/2 "2000-02-18T21:11:00Z")

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I don’t suppose you mean Cézanne’s portrait of his uncle?  
[http://www.smartweb.fr/fr/orsay/a/ns/36.htm](http://www.smartweb.fr/fr/orsay/a/ns/36.htm)  
[http://www.smartweb.fr/fr/orsay/a/ns/35106.jpg](http://www.smartweb.fr/fr/orsay/a/ns/35106.jpg)

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Official winner of [Bricker Challenge #5](http://www.straightdope.com/ubb/Forum4/HTML/004959.html).

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**Author:** ![Lucky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Lucky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucky)\
**Post date:** [February 19, 2000, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musee-dorsay/7518/3 "2000-02-19T01:35:00Z")

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Do you recall the style of the painting?

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**Author:** ![ellis555](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e36b37/32.png) [@ellis555](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ellis555)\
**Post date:** [February 19, 2000, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/musee-dorsay/7518/4 "2000-02-19T04:29:00Z")

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**Arnold Winkelried** -  
no, but thanks for the stab. the entire canvas was dark.

**Lucky** -  
i’d say impressionism, but i could be off. it certainly wasn’t the exaggerated style of seurat, but i don’t recall being impressed by an extraordinary realism, either. nonetheless, something about the painting caught me long enough to stand in front of it for about 30 minutes.

now watch me shamelessly bump this back to the top.

-ellis