Père Antoine at Age Seventy-Four by Edmund Brewster

Painter and engraver Edmund Brewster was among the many artists who came to Louisiana from the northern states in the early nineteenth century. These artists largely earned their living soliciting portrait commissions from the growing middle class of planters and merchants. Brewster arrived in New Orleans from Philadelphia in 1819 and was recognized as a young artist of unusual merit. One of his first paintings finished in the city, a copy of Gilbert Stuart’s portrait of George Washington, was purchased by the New Orleans City Council.

In 1822 he was commissioned by the St. Louis Cathedral to paint this imposing, larger than life-size portrait of Père Antoine (Padre Antonio de Sedella) placed before an archway. Even though the elderly Père is shown barefooted in his simple brown robe, the rendering gives a sense of the presence and convictions of the man. The museum also has Edmund Brewster’s engraving of a bust view of Père Antoine. Based on a smaller oil painting, the engraving is one of the earliest known portraits printed in New Orleans.

Despite a stormy career as a priest under the Spanish government and during the early American years in New Orleans, Père Antoine was popular with his parishioners.