ANTONIO BIGNOLI (ITALIAN 1812-1886) after JACQUES ALFRED VAN MUYDEN (SWISS 1818-1898) The Convent of Albiano signed A. Bignoli - VAN MUYDEN (lower right) watercolour, unframed 24 x 36 cm (9 1/2 x 14 in) The present watercolour by Antonio Bignoli is a copy of the painting by Swiss artist Jacques Alfred van Muyden, The Convent of Albiano, painted in 1854. The original painting, which was sold in Geneva in 2014 had a fascinating history. It was offered to General Dufour by Napoleon III and Empress Eugenie, after being exhibited at the Universal Exhibition of 1855 in Paris. General Dufour had stayed at the Chateau de Saint-Cloud as the guest of the Imperial family that same year. According to tradition, van Muyden had asked General Dufour to draw Napoleon's attention to the painting hoping that it would remain in the musuem in Paris. However, Napoleon decided to offer it to the General and it remained in his collection until it was acquired by the Reverdin collection. It was exhibited at the Exposition Universelle, Paris in 1855 and at the Musée de l'Athenee and Musée Rath, Geneva, One hundred years of Geneva painting, 1957.