JEAN

See also:

• LEON
• LEON, LUIS PONCE DE (1527-1591)
• LEON, MOSES BEN SI
• LEON, or LEON DE LAS ALDAMAS

LEON

See also:

• JEAN LEON GEROME (1824-1904)

GEROME (1824-1904)  , French painter, was born on the 11th of May 1824 at Vesoul (Haute-Saone) . He went to Paris in 1841 and worked under Paul Delaroche, whom he accompanied to Italy (1844-1845) . On his return he exhibited coal, copper, lead, iron and other ores, was valued at less than " 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 . He 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 he contributed a " Pifferaro," a " Shepherd," " A Russian Concert " and a large historical canvas, " 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'sreputation was greatly enhanced at the Salon of 1857 by a collection of works 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 picture 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 Maxime Ducamp . At the same Salon he exhibited the " Egyptian chopping Straw," and " Rembrandt biting an Etching," two very minutely finished works . GerBme's best paintings are of Eastern subjects; among these may be named the " Turkish Prisoner " and " Turkish Butcher " (1863); " Prayer " (1865); " The Slave Market " (1867); and " The Harem out Driving " (1869) .

He often illustrated '

history, 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; he executed, among other works; " Omphale " (1887), and the statue of the duc d'Aumale which stands in front of the chateau of Chantilly (1899) . 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 . He died in 1904 .