Jean-Louis-Ernest Meissonier French artist Date of Birth: 21.02.1815 Country: France

Biography of Jean-Louis Ernest Meissonier

Jean-Louis Ernest Meissonier, also known as Ernest Meissonier, was a French artist who achieved immense popularity during his lifetime. He was born in Lyon, France in 1815. From a young age, Meissonier displayed a passion for drawing, evident in the sketches he created in 1823 that showcased his considerable talent. However, his parents, who owned a pharmacy, believed that a future as an artist was not viable and encouraged him to become a pharmacist.

Despite his parents' reservations, Meissonier managed to convince them of his desire to pursue art and began honing his skills at Leon Cogniet's studio. He was largely self-taught and earned a living by illustrating books before progressing to oil painting. His works often depicted domestic scenes in the style of old Dutch masters, with characters dressed in costumes from past eras. Even at this early stage, Meissonier's expert technique and precision surpassed the simplicity of his subjects.

In 1841, Meissonier created the renowned "Game of Chess," followed by "Painter in his Studio" in 1843 and "Game of Piquet" in 1845. His genre paintings quickly gained popularity, as they skillfully conveyed historical settings and captivated audiences with their simplicity. Meissonier's meticulous attention to detail further enhanced his reputation as a master artist.

Although he predominantly focused on historical scenes, Meissonier occasionally depicted contemporary subjects. One notable example is his painting "Barricade." His reputation continued to grow, and during the Second Empire (1852-1870), Meissonier became Napoleon III's favored artist and the leading authority on art at the French court.

Later in his career, Meissonier expanded his subjects to include battle scenes. Interestingly, all his outdoor paintings were created exclusively from life. For example, when he painted his famous work "Campaign of France," which depicted Napoleon's army returning after a battle, Meissonier's models on horseback endured freezing temperatures while he painted them by a fire. In a comical turn of events, Meissonier, dissatisfied with the model portraying Napoleon, dismissed him and replaced him by posing as the emperor himself, sitting on a horse in front of a large mirror. He was known to be fanatical in his pursuit of accuracy, often subjecting himself to hunger and discomfort to capture the true essence of his subjects. Consequently, his paintings accurately conveyed the hunger and cold experienced by the individuals depicted.

Meissonier's ambition was unparalleled. In one anecdote, he returned a significant sum of money to a noblewoman for a portrait he believed she disliked, promptly scraping the painting off the canvas. Nonetheless, his popularity remained incredibly high during his lifetime, with his paintings selling quickly and eagerly sought after. His status at court undoubtedly contributed to his success.

Today, Ernest Meissonier's paintings are of interest as expressions of the societal taste of his time. He passed away on January 31, 1891, in Paris. His son, Jean-Charles Meissonier, followed in his footsteps, becoming an artist himself and receiving the Legion of Honour in 1889.

Among Meissonier's notable works are "A Smoker" (1849), "The Emperor at Solferino" (1863), "Les Bravi" (1852), "La Rixe" (1855), "Lute Player" (1851), and many others. His genre paintings and scenes depicting Napoleon's life are particularly renowned.