François Gérard
François Pascal Simon Gérard entered the world on the 4th of May 1770 in Rome. His father held a post within the house of the French ambassador there. His mother was Italian by birth. This Roman origin set him apart from most French artists who began their lives in Paris or provincial towns. At age twelve, he moved to Paris and gained admission into the Pension du Roi. He studied briefly under sculptor Augustin Pajou before switching to Nicolas-Guy Brenet. Brenet taught at the Académie royale de peinture et de sculpture starting in 1778. Gérard left Brenet almost immediately to join Jacques-Louis David's studio.
The year 1793 brought financial ruin when his father passed away. Extreme poverty forced young François to abandon formal studies for immediate paid work. David utilized his assistance on Louis-Michel Le Pelletier de Saint-Fargeau. That portrait was executed early in 1793 during the height of revolutionary violence. Gérard served on the revolutionary tribunal that year but absented himself from fatal decisions. By 1795 he created Bélisaire with help from miniaturist Jean-Baptiste Isabey. Sales of this piece and a portrait of Isabey provided funds for Psyche et l'Amour in 1797. A portrait of Madame Mère exhibited in 1799 established his position as a foremost portrait-painter.
Eight portraits by him appeared at the Salon of 1808 alone. Fourteen more followed at the Salon of 1810. These numbers indicate only a fraction of his yearly output. Leading figures of the Empire and Bourbon Restoration sat for him. George Canning, Charles de Talleyrand, and the Duke of Wellington all attended his salon. Madame Germaine de Staël also frequented his gatherings. His manner and conversation held equal charm to his brushwork. He became known across Europe as the painter of kings. Napoleon named him Baron Gérard in 1809. This title elevated his social standing alongside his artistic success.
Gérard felt remorse over abandoning history painting ambitions. That genre remained more prestigious than portraiture during his lifetime. He competed against rival Girodet to prove his strength in large-scale historical works. Bataille d'Austerlitz appeared in 1810 showing breadth of invention. L'Entrée d'Henri IV à Paris hung at Versailles in 1817. This work paid homage to returned King Louis XVIII after that date. Despite these efforts he could not match his portrait success. The Romantic school progressed while he watched with impotent grief. His color suffered damage over time but drawings retained uninjured delicacy.
He received honors including membership in the Institut on the 7th of March 1812. He became officer of the Légion d'honneur and first painter to the king. Several works celebrated the Coronation of Charles X in 1825. The revolution of 1830 added to his disquiet and sorrow. On the 11th of January 1837 he died after three days of fever. His students included Heinrich Christoph Kolbe. His drawings show virginal simplicity especially in depictions of women. The color of his paintings has suffered through centuries of exposure. A biography by his nephew Henri Gérard preserves much correspondence and notes.
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Common questions
When and where was François Gérard born?
François Pascal Simon Gérard entered the world on the 4th of May 1770 in Rome. His father held a post within the house of the French ambassador there while his mother was Italian by birth.
Who were the teachers of François Gérard during his early training?
François Gérard studied briefly under sculptor Augustin Pajou before switching to Nicolas-Guy Brenet. He left Brenet almost immediately to join Jacques-Louis David's studio after gaining admission into the Pension du Roi at age twelve.
Why did François Gérard abandon formal studies in 1793?
The year 1793 brought financial ruin when his father passed away and extreme poverty forced young François to abandon formal studies for immediate paid work. He utilized assistance from David on Louis-Michel Le Pelletier de Saint-Fargeau during this period.
What title did Napoleon give to François Gérard in 1809?
Napoleon named him Baron Gérard in 1809 to elevate his social standing alongside his artistic success. This title recognized his status as the painter of kings who painted leading figures of the Empire and Bourbon Restoration.
When did François Gérard die and what caused his death?
On the 11th of January 1837 he died after three days of fever following the revolution of 1830 which added to his disquiet and sorrow. His students included Heinrich Christoph Kolbe and a biography by his nephew Henri Gérard preserves much correspondence and notes.