Nicolas Allais, called Hallé

It has only been known since October 2025 that the miniature painter who signed his works “Hallé” was actually named Nicolas Allais, but appeared as an artist under the name Hallé. He was born on August 5, 1748, on the island of Martinique, the son of Nicolas Allais and Claudine Briard. In 1752, he moved with his parents to Paris, where he lost his father at the age of 14. In 1767, he was admitted to the school of the Académie Royale de Peinture et de Sculpture in Paris. In 1782, the penniless but handsome artist married Barbe Rommel. Allais was a notorious cheater and bon vivant. He squandered his wife's dowry on his mistress, the dancer Marie-Louise Denis, known as Ledoux, and was sued by Barbe as a result. The couple later divorced. In 1813, Hallé was imprisoned for producing counterfeit banknotes. Released in 1814, he was recaptured in 1818, again for counterfeiting. During his interrogation, however, the 70-year-old artist managed to escape. Despite a search warrant issued in all departments, he was never found.