Joseph-Desire Court Biography

In 1817 Joseph-Desire Court entered the Academie des Beaux-Arts in Paris, where he studied under Antoine-Jean Gros. In 1821 Court won the Prix de Rome with Samson Handed over to the Philistines by Delilah (1821; Paris, Ecole Normal Superieur). Court began exhibiting at the Salon in 1824 and in 1827 showed Scene from the Deluge (1827; Lyon, Musee des Beaux-Arts), painted while he was in Rome, and the Death of Caesar (Paris, Louvre). The latter proved a sensational success: it was initially bought by the Musee du Luxembourg, Paris, and was re-exhibited in 1855 before being sent to the Louvre.