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 Jean-Louis Ernest Meissonier was a French Classicist painter and sculptor famous for his depictions of Napoleon, his armies and military themes. He documented sieges and manoeuvres and was the teacher of Édouard Detaille.
Meissonier enjoyed great success in his lifetime, and was acclaimed both for his mastery of fine detail and assiduous craftsmanship. The English art critic John Ruskin examined his work at length under a magnifying glass, "marvelling at Meissonier's manual dexterity and eye for fascinating minutiae".
Meissonier's work commanded enormous prices and in 1846 he purchased a great mansion in Poissy, sometimes known as the Grande Maison. The Grande Maison included two large studios, the atelier d'hiver, or winter workshop, situated on the top floor of the house, and at ground level, a glass-roofed annexe, the atelier d'été or summer workshop. Meissonier himself said that his house and temperament belonged to another age, and some, like the critic Paul Mantz for example, criticised the artist's seemingly limited repertoire. Like Alexandre Dumas, he excelled at depicting scenes of chivalry and masculine adventure against a backdrop of pre-Revolutionary and pre-industrial France, specialising in scenes from seventeenth and eighteenth-century life.
Ernest Meissonier was born at Lyon. His father, Charles, had been a successful businessman, the proprietor of a factory in Saint-Denis, north of Paris, that made dyes for the textile industry. He expected Ernest, the eldest of his two sons, to follow him into the dye business. Yet from his schooldays Ernest showed a taste for painting, to which some early sketches, dated 1823, bear witness. After being placed with a druggist in the Rue des Lombards, at age seventeen, he obtained leave from his parents to become an artist. Following the recommendation of a painter named Potier, himself a second class Prix de Rome, he was admitted to Léon Cogniet's studio. He also formed his style after the Dutch masters as represented in the Louvre.
He paid short visits to Rome and to Switzerland, and exhibited in the Salon of 1831 a painting then called Les Bourgeois Flamands (Dutch Burghers), but also known as The Visit to the Burgomaster, subsequently purchased by Sir Richard Wallace, in whose collection (at Hertford House, London) it is, with fifteen other examples of this painter. It was the first attempt in France in the particular genre which was destined to make Meissonier famous: microscopic painting miniature in oils. Working hard for daily bread at illustrations for the publishers Curmer, Hetzel and Dubocherhe, Meissonier also exhibited at the Salon of 1836 with Chess Player and the Errand Boy.
In 1838 Meissonier married a Protestant woman from Strasbourg named Emma Steinhel, the sister of M. Steinheil, one of his artistic companions. Two children were born in due course; Thérèse (1840), and Charles. On the birth registration of his daughter he described himself as a "painter of history".
After some not very happy attempts at religious painting, he returned, under the influence of Chenavard, to the class of work he was born to excel in, and exhibited with much success the Game of Chess (1841), the Young Man playing the 'Cello (1842), Painter in his Studio (1843), The Guard Room, the Young Man looking at Drawings, the Game of Piquet (1845), and the Game of Bowls, works which show the finish and certainty of his technique, and assured his success.
Meissonier became known as the French Metsu, a reference to the seventeenth-century Dutch painter Gabriel Metsu, who specialised in miniature scenes of bourgeois domestic life; "grandiose history paintings did not sell as readily as smaller canvases such as landscapes or portraits, which fitted more easily onto the walls of Paris apartments". He specialised in scenes from seventeenth- and eighteenth-century life, portraying his bonshommes, or goodfellows - playing chess, smoking pipes, reading books, sitting before easels or double basses, or posing in the uniforms of musketeers or halberdiers [-] all executed in microscopic detail. Typical examples include Halt at an Inn, owned by the Duc de 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 exhibited A Smoker (1849) and Bravos (Les Bravi, 1852). In 1855 he touched the highest mark of his achievement with The Gamblers and The Quarrel (La Rixe), which was presented by Napoleon III to the English Court. His triumph was sustained at the Salon of 1857, when he exhibited nine pictures, and drawings; among them the Young Man of the Time of the Regency, The Painter, The Shoeing Smith, The Musician, and A Reading at Diderot's. When, in the summer of 1859, Emperor Napoleon III, together with Victor Emmanuel II King of Piedmont and Sardinia, tried to oust the Habsburgs from their territories in northern Italy, Meissonier received a government commission to illustrate scenes from the campaign. The Emperor Napoleon III at Solferino took Meissonier more than three years to complete. The work, a battle scene, represented something of a departure for the painter of bonshommes and musketeers though Meissonier had already painted scenes of violence and massacre, such as Remembrance of Civil War, and in 1848 had indeed seen active service as a captain in the National Guard, when he fought on the side of the republican government during the June Days. In autumn 1861 he was elected to a chair in the Institut de France when the members of the Académie des Beaux-Arts voted for him to join their number. To the Salon of 1861 he sent A Shoeing Smith, A Musician, A Painter, and M. Louis Fould; to that of 1864 The Emperor at Solferino, and 1814. He subsequently exhibited A Gamblers' Quarrel (1865) and Desaix and the Army of the Rhine (1867).
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Early Life and Training
Jean-Louis Ernest Meissonier, a renowned French painter and sculptor, was born on February 21, 1815, in Lyon, France. His father, Charles, expected him to follow in his footsteps as a successful businessman, but Meissonier's passion for painting prevailed. At the age of seventeen, he obtained permission from his parents to pursue an artistic career.
Meissonier's early training took place under the guidance of Léon Cogniet, and he also formed his style after the Dutch masters represented in the Louvre. His brief visits to Rome and Switzerland further enriched his artistic experience.
Rise to Fame
Meissonier's breakthrough came with his painting Les Bourgeois Flamands (Dutch Burghers), also known as The Visit to the Burgomaster, exhibited at the Salon of 1831. This work, now part of Sir Richard Wallace's collection at Hertford House in London, marked the beginning of Meissonier's success with microscopic painting miniature in oils.
Throughout his career, Meissonier commanded enormous prices for his work. In 1846, he purchased a grand mansion in Poissy, known as the Grande Maison, which featured two large studios: the atelier d'hiver (winter workshop) and the atelier d'été (summer workshop).
Notable Works and Legacy
Meissonier's most famous works include:
Meissonier's legacy extends beyond his artwork. He was the teacher of Édouard Detaille and served as a captain in the National Guard during the June Days of 1848.
Explore More with WahooArt.com
Discover more about Meissonier's life and work on WahooArt.com's Jean Louis Ernest Meissonier page. Browse through thousands of artworks by various artists, including Meissonier's masterpieces, and order a stunning canvas print or an oil-painted replica direct from WahooArt.com.
Conclusion
Jean-Louis Ernest Meissonier, a master of French Classicism, left an indelible mark on the art world with his meticulous attention to detail and captivating depictions of Napoleon, military themes, and everyday life. His legacy continues to inspire artists and art enthusiasts alike, and his work can be explored in depth through WahooArt.com's extensive collection. |
**Early Life and Training**
Jean-Louis Ernest Meissonier, a renowned French painter and sculptor, was born on February 21, 1815, in Lyon, France. His father, Charles, expected him to follow in his footsteps as a successful businessman, but Meissonier's passion for painting prevailed. At the age of seventeen, he obtained permission from his parents to pursue an artistic career.
Meissonier's early training included studying under Léon Cogniet and being influenced by Dutch masters at the Louvre. This foundation would later shape his distinctive style.
**Rise to Prominence**
Meissonier's breakthrough came with his painting Les Bourgeois Flamands (Dutch Burghers), also known as The Visit to the Burgomaster, exhibited at the Salon of 1831. This work, now part of Sir Richard Wallace's collection at Hertford House in London, marked the beginning of Meissonier's success with microscopic painting miniature in oils.
- Meissonier's subsequent works, such as The Game of Chess (1841), The Young Man playing the 'Cello (1842), and Painter in his Studio (1843), solidified his reputation for meticulous craftsmanship.
- His marriage to Emma Steinhel, a Protestant woman from Strasbourg, in 1838, marked a significant personal milestone.
- Meissonier's involvement with the National Guard during the June Days of 1848 showcased his commitment to the republican government.
**Legacy and Notable Works**
Meissonier is often referred to as the French Metsu, a nod to the Dutch painter Gabriel Metsu, known for his miniature scenes of bourgeois domestic life. Meissonier's works, characterized by their microscopic detail, include:
Meissonier's later work, The Emperor at Solferino, a battle scene depicting Napoleon III, marked a departure from his typical genre.
**Museums and Collections**
Meissonier's works can be found in various museums, including the Musée d'Orsay in Paris. To explore more of Meissonier's art, visit [https://WahooArt.com/@/Jean-Louis-Ernest-Meissonier](https://WahooArt.com) and discover the masterpieces at [Musée d'Orsay](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mus%C3%A9_d%27Orsay).
- Learn more about Meissonier's life and works on [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ernest_Meissonier).
- Explore the Musée d'Orsay's collection at [Musée d'Orsay Official Website](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mus%C3%A9_d%27Orsay).
**Conclusion**
Jean-Louis Ernest Meissonier, a master of French Classicism, left an indelible mark on the art world with his meticulous and detailed works. His legacy continues to inspire artists and art enthusiasts alike, offering a glimpse into 19th-century France's rich cultural heritage. |
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