Mrs. BECQUEREL. - Lot 123

Mrs. BECQUEREL. French school of the 19th century. -Portrait of Antoine Becquerel (1788-1878), in the uniform of a member of the Institut, Officer of the Legion of Honor -Portrait of Aimée Philippe Becquerel, née Darlu, in blue dress and white shawl. Pair of miniatures signed on the right "Mme Becquerel", one dated 1836. In light wood veneered frames with brass palmettes motif (one motif missing and a detached motif on the portrait of Monsieur). 95 x 80 mm. B.E. Biography: An engineer officer, he fought in the Spanish (Aragonese army commanded by Suchet) and French campaigns, distinguishing himself at the assault on Fort Francoli. He was promoted to captain (1812). Sub-inspector of the École polytechnique (1813), he returned to service as captain of the 1st engineering regiment (1814). He defended Langres and Troyes, before retiring as battalion commander (1815). On Girodet's advice, he devoted himself entirely to science. His first studies were in mineralogy. His main interest was in electricity, and (1823) he gave the fundamental laws of thermoelectric phenomena. He was responsible for major works on batteries, including the invention of the two-liquid "constant-current" battery and the electromagnetic balance, as well as on electrochemistry, the electrical conductivity of metals, the galvanometer and atmospheric electricity. Professor of physics applied to natural history at the Muséum (1828), he joined the Académie des Sciences (1829).4573