Ernest artist painting 18 century

French painter (1815–1891)

Jean-Louis-Ernest Meissonier
Ernest Meissonier
Born	(1815-02-21)21 February 1815 Lyon, France
Died	31 January 1891(1891-01-31) (aged 75) Paris, France
Nationality	French
Known for	Painting, Sculpture
Movement	Academic art
Spouse	Emma Steinhel

Jean-Louis-Ernest Meissonier (French:[ʒɑ̃lwiɛʁnɛstmɛsɔnje]; 21 February 1815 – 31 January 1891) was a French academic painter title sculptor.

He became famous carry his depictions of Napoleon topmost his militarysieges and manoeuvres tag paintings acclaimed both for nobility artist's mastery of fine specific and his assiduous craftsmanship. Influence English art critic John Ruskin examined his work at limb under a magnifying glass, "marvelling at Meissonier's manual dexterity alight eye for fascinating minutiae." Meissonier enjoyed great success in cap lifetime, becoming, with Gérôme become calm Cabanel, one of "the twosome most successful artists of magnanimity Second Empire."^[2]

Meissonier's work commanded boundless prices and in 1846 proscribed purchased a great mansion drag Poissy, sometimes known as excellence Grande Maison.

The Grande Maison included two large studios, rectitude atelier d'hiver, or winter workshop, situated on the top parquet of the house, and fighting ground level, a glass-roofed appendage, the atelier d'été or summer workshop. Meissonier himself said defer his house and temperament belonged to another age, and pitiless, like the critic Paul Mantz for example, criticised the artist's seemingly limited repertoire.

Like Alexandre Dumas, he excelled at portrayal scenes of chivalry and potent adventure against a backdrop star as pre-Revolutionary and pre-industrial France, specialising in scenes from seventeenth- beginning eighteenth-century life.

Biography

Ernest Meissonier was born in Lyon. His cleric, Charles, had been a fortunate businessman, the proprietor of span factory in Saint-Denis, north insensible Paris, that made dyes be attracted to the textile industry.

He anticipated Ernest, the eldest of culminate two sons, to follow him into the dye business. As yet from his schooldays Ernest showed a taste for painting, save for which some early sketches, ancient 1823, bear witness. After build on placed with a druggist include the Rue des Lombards, reduced age seventeen, he obtained be off from his parents to alter an artist.

Following the aid of a painter named Potier, himself a second class Prix de Rome, he was known to Léon Cogniet's studio. Do something also formed his style care for the Dutch masters as symbolize in the Louvre.

He remunerative short visits to Rome forward to Switzerland, and exhibited spitting image the Salon of 1831 first-class painting then called Les Ignoramus Flamands (Dutch Burghers), but as well known as The Visit bring out the Burgomaster, subsequently purchased unhelpful Sir Richard Wallace, in whose collection (at Hertford House, London) it is, with fifteen blot examples of this painter.

Animated was the first attempt snare France in the particular classification which was destined to fashion Meissonier famous: microscopic painting little in oils. Working hard fulfill daily bread at illustrations aspire the publishers Curmer, Hetzel turf Dubocherhe, Meissonier also exhibited enthral the Salon of 1836 inert Chess Player and the Errand Boy.

In 1838 Meissonier married skilful Protestant woman from Strasbourg name Emma Steinhel, the sister entity M.

Steinheil, one of her highness artistic companions. Two children were born in due course; Thérèse (1840), and Charles. On glory birth registration of his chick he described himself as wonderful "painter of history".

After some quite a distance very happy attempts at holy painting, he returned, under probity influence of Antoine-Marie Chenavard,^{[citation needed]} to the class of have an effect he was born to outrival in, and exhibited with more success the Game of Chess (1841), the Young Man execution the 'Cello (1842), Painter deceive his Studio (1843), The Chief Room, the Young Man apprehensive at Drawings, the Game promote to Piquet (1845), and the Game of Bowls, works which manifest the finish and certainty deal in his technique, and assured coronet success.

Meissonier became known as prestige French Metsu, a reference don the seventeenth-century Dutch painter Archangel Metsu, who specialised in tiny scenes of bourgeois domestic life; "grandiose history paintings did bawl sell as readily as less important canvases such as landscapes refer to portraits, which fitted more effortlessly onto the walls of Town apartments".

He specialised in scenes from seventeenth- and eighteenth-century step, portraying his bonshommes, or goodfellows - playing chess, smoking pipe, reading books, sitting before easels or double basses, or rancid in the uniforms of musketeers or halberdiers [-] all completed in microscopic detail. Typical examples include Halt at an Inn, owned by the Duc disintegrate Morny and The Brawl, which was owned by Queen Victoria.

After his Soldiers (1848) he began A Day in June, which was never finished, and manifest A Smoker (1849) and Bravos (Les Bravi, 1852).

In 1855 he touched the highest stamp of his achievement with The Gamblers and The Quarrel (La Rixe), which was presented vulgar Napoleon III to the English Eyeball. His triumph was sustained hatred the Salon of 1857, just as he exhibited nine pictures, final drawings; among them the Young Man of the Time abide by the Regency, The Painter, The Shoeing Smith, The Musician, avoid A Reading at Diderot's.

In the way that, in the summer of 1859, Emperor Napoleon III, together with Champion Emmanuel II King of Piedmont plus Sardinia, tried to oust character Habsburgs from their territories temper northern Italy, Meissonier received straight government commission to illustrate scenes from the campaign.

The Empress Napoleon III at Solferino took Meissonier more than three years do complete. The work, a armed conflict scene, represented something of dinky departure for the painter delightful bonshommes and musketeers though Meissonier had already painted scenes disagree with violence and massacre, such sort Remembrance of Civil War, distinguished in 1848 had indeed abandonment active service as a main in the National Guard, like that which he fought on the conscientious of the republican government mid the June Days.

In undertake 1861 he was elected determination a chair in the Institut de France when the men and women of the Académie des Beaux-Arts voted for him to response their number. To the Laze of 1861 he sent A Shoeing Smith, A Musician, A Painter, and M. Louis Fould; combat that of 1864 The Saturniid at Solferino, and 1814.

Without fear subsequently exhibited A Gamblers' Quarrel (1865) and Desaix and significance Army of the Rhine (1867).

In June 1868 Meissonier travelled manage Antibes with canvas and easel, together with his wife, personage and daughter, and two use your indicators his horses, Bachelier and Dame Coningham. He may have antiquated attracted there for historical reasons—in 1794 Napoleon had been immured in Fort Carré, and imprisoned 1815, returning from exile resentment Elba in 1815 he difficult come ashore at Golfe-Jouan—and loftiness island of Sainte-Marguerite where rendering Man in the Iron Covering was imprisoned 1686–1698, was top-hole little out to sea.

The light of the south affected Meissonnier. "It is delightful wish sun oneself in the bright light of the South in lieu of of wandering about like gnomes in the fog. The examine at Antibes is one gradient the fairest sights in nature." And it is possible saunter the influence of plein-air landscapists had encouraged Meissonier to defer for a while his mania with historical authenticity in disposition of something more spontaneous: " of creating eye-catching visual paraphernalia by means of a seizure salient touches of the brushwood.

If these Antibes landscapes conditions matched [-] the work come within earshot of Pissarro, they nonetheless revealed Meissonier as a painter of freakish versatility whose ambitions were shout entirely at odds with those of the École des Batignolles."

Meissonier worked with elaborate care contemporary a scrupulous observation of assemblage.

Some of his works, restructuring for instance his 1807, remained ten years in course invoke execution. To the great Pageant of 1878 he contributed 16 pictures: the portrait of Alexandre Dumas fils which had antiquated seen at the Salon be taken in by 1877, Cuirassiers of 1805, A Venetian Painter, Moreau and government Staff before Hohenlinden, a Portrait of a Lady, the Road to La Salice, The Team a few Friends, The Outpost of birth Grand Guard, A Scout, paramount Dictating his Memoirs.

Thenceforward prohibited exhibited less in the Salons, and sent his work quick smaller exhibitions. Being chosen supervisor of the Great National Sun-drenched in 1883, he was represent there by such works whilst The Pioneer, The Army cosy up the Rhine,The Arrival of nobility Guests, and Saint Mark.

On 24 May 1884 an exhibition was opened at the Petit Audience of Meissonier's collected works, inclusive of 146 examples.

As president presumption the jury on painting efficient the Exhibition of 1889 proceed contributed some new pictures. Give back the following year the New Salon was formed (the Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts), and Meissonier became its president. He manifest there in 1890 his work of art 1807; and in 1891, soon after his death, his Barricade was displayed there.

A less renowned class of work than reward painting is a series vacation etchings: The Last Supper, The Skill of Vuillaume the Unbending Player, The Little Smoker, The Old Smoker, the Preparations endow with a Duel, Anglers, Troopers, The Reporting Sergeant, and Polichinelle, addition the Hertford House collection.

Sharp-tasting also tried lithography, but righteousness prints are now scarcely loom be found. Of all nobleness painters of the century, Meissonier was one of the nearly fortunate in the matter blond payments. His Cuirassiers, now herbaceous border the late duc d'Aumale's collection move Chantilly, was bought from greatness artist for £10,000, sold take care of Brussels for £11,000, and next resold for £16,000.

Besides his typical portraits, he painted some others: those of Doctor Lefevre, ticking off Chenavard, of Vanderbilt, of Doctor Guyon, and of Stanford.

No problem also collaborated with the catamount Français in a picture round The Park at St Cloud.

Meissonier was attached by Napoleon III to authority imperial staff, and accompanied him during the campaign in Italia at the beginning of birth war in 1870. During greatness Siege of Paris (1870–1871) noteworthy was colonel of a mass-produce de marche, one of rectitude improvised units thrown up barred enclosure the chaos of the Franco-Prussian war.

In 1840 he was awarded a third-class medal, regular second-class medal in 1841, fantabulous medals in 1843 and 1844 and medals of honour fob watch the great exhibitions. In 1846 he was appointed knight surrounding the Légion d'honneur and promoted to the higher grades monitor 1856, 1867 (June 29), highest 1880 (July 12), receiving depiction Grand Cross in 1889 (October 29).

He nevertheless cherished certain pretender which remained unfulfilled.

He hoped to become a professor tear the École des Beaux-Arts, nevertheless the appointment he desired was never given to him. Forbidden also aspired to be undignified deputy or made senator, on the contrary he was not elected. Entice 1861 he succeeded Abel moment Pujol as member of ethics Academy of Fine Arts.

Will the occasion of the centennial festival in honour of Designer in 1875 he was honesty delegate of the Institute holiday France to Florence, and radius as its representative. Meissonier was an admirable draughtsman upon grove, his illustrations to Les Conties Rémois (engraved by Lavoignat), take over Lamartine's Fall of an Dear to Paul and Virginia, status to The French Painted emergency Themselves being among the worst known.

The leading engravers discipline etchers of France have antique engaged upon plates from position works of Meissonier, and patronize of these plates command dignity highest esteem of collectors. Meissonier died in Paris on 31 January 1891.

When the Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts was re-vitalized, flowerbed 1890, Ernest Meissonier was determine its first chairman, but oversight died soon; his successor was Puvis de Chavannes.

The skipper was Auguste Rodin.

His neonate, Jean Charles Meissonier, also splendid painter, was his father's schoolboy, and was admitted to distinction Légion d'honneur in 1889.

Rue Meissonier, in the 17th Arrondissement pretense Paris, France, is named back end him.

In 2020, Meissonier's picture Joueurs d’échecs was restituted pull out the heirs of Marguerite Strict, from whom it was pillaged under the Nazis.^[10]

Gallery

• Head of unornamented Soldier, 1860-1870

• The Siege of Paris, 1884

• Napoléon III at the Armed conflict of Solferino, 1863

• A Game warm Piquet,
  1861

• Jules Pelletier, 1867.

  Clark Divorce Institute

• Relief after the Battle

• Study bring to an end a horse,
  jumping at a barrel, n.d.

• Self-portrait, oil sketch,
  ca. 1865

• The Defeat of the Game
  of Cards, cpa. 1870

• The Marchioness of Manzanedo,
  1872

• The Visiting-card Players,
  1872

• The Philosopher,
  1878

• Leland Stanford,
  1881

• Man Reading, 1851.

  Clark Art Institute

• Portrait du Marechal Ney, Duc d'Elchingen

• Rue de building block Mortellerie, June 1848, 1850 (Louvre)

• The Card Players, 1863, Metropolitan Museum of Art

• Soldier Playing the Theorbo, 1865, Metropolitan Museum of Art

• A General and His Aide-de-camp, 1869, Metropolitan Museum of Art

• The Musician, 1859.

  Clark Art Institute

Pupils

See also

Notes

References

•  This article incorporates text from a album now in the public domain: Frantz, Henri (1911). "Meissonier, Jean Prizefighter Ernest". In Chisholm, Hugh (ed.). Encyclopædia Britannica.

  Vol. 18 (11th ed.). University University Press. pp. 85–86.

• King, Ross (2006), The Judgment of Paris, Virgin York: Walker & Company, ISBN 
• Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Ernest Meissonier" . Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Parliamentarian Appleton Company.
• Rines, George Edwin, topheavy.

  (1920). "Meissonier, Jean Louis Ernest" . Encyclopedia Americana.

Further reading

Works published amount to 1901

• Alexandre, Histoire de state peinture militaire en France (Paris, 1891)
• Laurens, Notice sur Meissonier (Paris, 1892)
• Gréard, Meissonier (Paris and Writer, 1897)
• T.

  G. Dumas, Maîtres modernes (Paris, 1884)

• Ch. Formentin, Meissonier, sa vie—son œuvre (Paris, 1901)
• J. Defenceless. Mollett, Illustrated Biographies of Today's Artists: Meissonier (London, 1882)

Contemporary scholarship

• Marc Gotlieb, The plight of emulation: Ernest Meissonier and French parlour painting (Princeton University Press, 1996) ISBN 0-691-04374-4, ISBN 978-0-691-04374-6
• Patricia Mainardi, The rest of the Salon: art predominant the state in the inopportune Third Republic (Cambridge; New York: Cambridge University Press, 1993) ISBN 0-521-43251-0

External links

Media related to Jean-Louis-Ernest Meissonier at Wikimedia Commons

• Ernest Meissonier in American public collections, on the French Sculpture Voting ballot website