Jean-Léon Gérôme (May 11, 1824 – January 10, 1904) was a French painter
and sculptor who resisted the counter-revolutionary movements of
Impressionism begun by Monet and Manet, continuing the development and
conservation of French neo-classicism. He also produced many works in a
historical, Orientalist style, bringing the French Empire tradition to
an artistic climax.
Born at Vesoul (Haute-Saône), he went to Paris in 1840 where he studied
under Paul Delaroche, whom he accompanied to Italy (1844-1845). On his
return he followed, like many other students of Delaroche, into the
atelier of Charles Gleyre, and in turn exhibited The Cock-fight, which
gained him a third-class medal in the Salon of 1847. This work was seen
as the epitomy of the Neo-Grec movement that had formed out of
Gleyre\'s studio, and was championed by the French critic Theophile
Gautier.The Virgin with Christ and St John and Anacreon, Bacchus and
Cupid took a second-class medal in 1848. He exhibited Bacchus and Love,
Drunk, a Greek Interior and Souvenir d\'Italie, in 1851; Paestum
(1852); and An Idyll (1853).
In 1854 Gérôme made a journey to Turkey and the shores of the Danube,
and in 1857 visited Egypt. To the exhibition of 1855 he contributed a
Pifferaro, a Shepherd, A Russian Concert and a large historical canvas,
The Age of Augustus and the Birth of Christ. The last was somewhat
confused in effect, but in recognition of its consummate ability the
State purchased it.
Gérôme\'s reputation was greatly enhanced at the Salon of 1857 by a
collection of works of a more popular kind: the Duel: after a
Masquerade, Egyptian Recruits crossing the Desert, Memnon and Sesostris
and Camels Watering, the drawing of which was criticized by Edmond
About.
In Caesar (1859) Gérôme tried to return to a severer class of work, but
the picture failed to interest the public. Phryne before the Areopagus,
Le Roi Candaule and Socrates finding Alcibiades in the House of Aspasia
(1861) gave rise to some scandal by reason of the subjects selected by
the painter, and brought down on him the bitter attacks of Paul de
Saint-Victor and Maxime Du Camp. At the same Salon he exhibited the
Egyptian chopping Straw, and Rembrandt biting an Etching, two very
minutely finished works.
Gérôme was elected a member of the Institut de France in 1865.
Jean-Léon Gérôme died in 1904 and was buried in the Montmartre Cemetery. He was the father-in-law of the painter Aimé Morot.
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