Gabriel Tapié de Céleyran

Having come to Paris in 1891 to continue his medical studies, Gabriel Tapié de Céleyran introduced his cousin to the medical community and often accompanied him on his nights out. Lautrec chose the corridors of the Comédie Française as the setting for his full-length portrait of Gabriel, walking on the bright red carpet of the corridor, while in the background, three figures with expressionistic faces converse.

An intern and then an assistant in the department of Dr. Péan from 1891 to 1895, and later at the international hospital created by the surgeon, Gabriel brought Lautrec into the medical world, which allowed the painter to execute numerous sketches and paintings depicting Péan operating.