Jean-Leon Gerome Biography
Gerome was a French painter, born on the 11th of May 1824.
Gerome went to Paris in 1841 and worked under Paul Delaroche, whom he accompanied to Italy (1844 - 1845). On his return Gerome exhibited The Cock-fight, which gained him a third-class medal in the Salon of 1847. The Virgin with Christ and St John and Anacreon, Bacchus and Cupid took a second-class medal in 1848. Gerome exhibited Bacchus and Love, Drunk, a Greek Interior and Souvenir d’Italie, in 1851; Paestum (1852); and An Idyll (1853).
In 1854 Gerome made a journey to Turkey and the shores of the Danube, and in 1857 visited Egypt. To the exhibition of 1855 Gerome contributed a Pifferaro, a Shepherd, A Russian Concert and a large historical oil painting, 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. Gerome's reputation was greatly enhanced at the Salon of 1857 by a collection of paintings 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) Gerome tried to return to a severer class of work, but the painting 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 Maxjme Ducamp. At the same Salon Gerome exhibited his painting the Egyptian chopping Straw, and Rembrandt biting an Etching, two very minutely finished paintings.
The best Gerome paintings are of Eastern subjects; among these paintings may be named the Turkish Prisoner and Turkish Butcher (1863); Prayer (1865); The Slave Market (1867); and The Harem out Driving (1869).In Gerome paintings history was often illustrated , as in Louis XIV and Moliere (1863); The Reception of the Siamese Ambassadors at Fontainebleau (1865); and the Death of Marshal Ney (1868).
Gerome was also successful as a sculptor; Gerome executed, among other paintings; Omphale (1887). His Bellona (1892), in ivory, metal, and precious stones, which was also exhibited in the Royal Academy of London, attracted great attention. The artist then began an interesting series of Conquerors, wrought in gold, silver and gems - Bonaparte entering Cairo (1897); Tamerlane (1898); and Frederick the Great (1899). Gerome was elected member of the Institut in 1865.
Gerome died in 1904.