Alphonse Jongers

After working briefly in Montreal, the French born Alphonse Jongers (1872-1945) moved to New York in 1900, returning in 1924 to Montreal where he had considerable success as a society portrait painter. The sculpture is inscribed on the back: "à l'ami Jongers bien cordialement" (with warm regards to my friend Jongers). A great admirer of classical sculpture, Hébert depicts the artist in the manner of a Roman senator, an effect heightened by the inset eyes and dark black patina or colouring.