Portrait de Louis Delaunay père (1826-1903), sociétaire de la Comédie Française

Théobald Chartran's portrait of Louis Delaunay père (1826–1903) as a sociétaire of the Comédie-Française (1885) depicts the senior Louis Delaunay — a distinguished French actor celebrated for his interpretations of leading juvenile and romantic roles, particularly in classical comedy. Delaunay was a highly regarded teacher at the Conservatoire as well as a performer, and his influence on French acting pedagogy was significant. The companion portrait of his son in the role of Perdican suggests Chartran may have paired these father-son portraits deliberately. The work is in the Musée Carnavalet.

The portrait conveys the authority and refinement of a senior theatrical figure — Delaunay père was known for the elegance and clarity of his acting. Chartran handles the face with careful observation of the qualities associated with theatrical distinction: precision of feature, clarity of expression. The handling is polished and respectful.