Jean-leon Gerome - A Short History
Jean Leon Gerome was born in 1834 in Versoul, France, not far from the border with Switzerland. His father was a goldsmith and his mother was from a merchants family. Jean-Leon was a high achieving academic student, receiving prizes in chemistry, physics and art. He completed school in 1840 and was sent to Paris to study with Paul Delaroche, an interesting individual who was a sought after teacher. His ways were rigorous. Mornings were taken up with drawing form a model and the afternoons were for private study in sketching or drawing countryside or street scenes.
He was a popular student and with the wealth from his father was able to live a good life and assist others less fortunate than himself often. Jean-Leon took extra lessons at other art schools in anatomy and perspective. He was encourage by Delaroche to submit works to “Magasin Pittoresue” and was accepted and became a regular contributor, thus supplementing his income. He also painted small religious paintings that were sold in the religious shops of the day.
When returning from a vacation in Vesoul in his third year, Delaroche closed his studio as he was in deep depression after the death of his father, and his wife. Jean- Leon then went to Rome for the happiest year of his life, but returned after a bout of typhoid fever. He studied the old masters and spent time in Pompeii, where he was inspired by the gladiatorial scenes.
Jean-Leon returned to Paris after Charles Gleyre reopened Delaroches old art school. He was a well liked teacher with excellent skills that he shared eagerly with his students, particularly his ideas on composition. He was also a philanthropist at heart because he did not charge his students attendance fees. Other students of Gleyre over time included Monet, Renior and Whistler. Gleyre was a master of detail and accuracy and he possessed a sophisticated wit.
Delaroche did recover and returned to Paris for a commissioned work and Jean-Leon joined him as his assistant for a year. Jean-Leon also received commissions for work in his own right, with the encouragement of Delaroche. Jean-Leon painted a large canvas in 1847 called “The Cock Fight”, found a place to exhibit it and then received significant positive acclaim from the art critique of the day Theopile Gautier and his career was well and truly launched.
Successive French governments provided large amounts of money for the arts and kept artists at their work. As an artists fame spread, like Jean-Leon’s did, he could charge higher and higher fees for his commissioned works, however by 1860, he had become too expensive for the French government. He then concentrated on more adventurous original works combining classical interests with the realism of the day. He visited Turkey in 1855 and Egypt in 1857 and so his paintings took on a fresh near east flavour.
Jean-Leon decided to visit Egypt for an extended period, but had to endure a duel (about some lady) before he departed. He was shot in the wrist but went to Egypt as planned. When he returned he married Marie Goupil, the daughter of an international art dealer. They had four daughters, and one son. They built a stately home in Rue de Brussels with a sculpture studio, a painting studio and a teaching space.
He was appointed professor of a teaching studio in 1864 and in 1868 set off with a group of students and friends to the Middle East for sketching and drawing. He was much decorated and honored both in Europe and England for his work in painting and drawing. Wars came and went and the schools were effected, but Jean-Leon kept on painting and teaching.
In 1903, he died from a weakened heart and he is buried near a sculpture he cast in memory of his son called “Sorrow”. His son had died earlier aged 27.
for more information on some of the Old Masters go to http://uniquevintageprints.googlepages.com
Tags: artist, french painter, jean-leon gerome, old master, painter, painting
Related Posts
- Jean-leon Gerome - Short List Of Works
- Jean Shepherd, A Great American Humorist
- The Old Masters - Who Are They?
- Les Miserables
- You Do Not Need To Know All History - It Repeats Way Too Often
Filed under: Arts and Entertainment