Cardinal Charles Lavigerie, Archbishop of Algiers (1825-1892), Léon Bonnat, 1888

Monsignor charles martial lavigerie (1825-1892) was the founder of the white fathers; he contributed to the spread of social christian and educational institutions within french algeria. This oil on canvas was painted in 1888 by léon bonnat (1833-1922), who was a french painter and a portraitist. It was purchased by the french state for the national collection and was initially displayed at the luxembourg museum. Subsequently, it was displayed at exhibitions which took place in moscow and in chicago. Currently, it is on display at the gallery of historical portraits in versailles. This painting became well known due to the fact that its engraved reproduction was used during the toast of algiers, where bishop charles lavigerie urged the french catholics — most of them fervent royalists — to join the french republican government. Object Type: painting. Date: 1888. Dimensions: height: 239 cm (94 in); width: 164 cm (64.5 in). Medium: oil on canvas. Collection: Palace of Versailles. Lavigerie charles martial cardinal bonnat léon 1888 02