JEAN

See also:

• BAPTISTE

BAPTISTE PAULIN

See also:

• JEAN BAPTISTE PAULIN GUERIN (1783-1855)
• GUERIN, PIERRE NARCISSE, BARON (1774-1833)

GUERIN (1783-1855)  , French painter, was born at Toulon, on the 25th of March 1783, of poor parents . He learnt, as a lad, his father's trade of a locksmith, whilst at the same time he followed the classes of the free school of art . Having sold some copies to a local amateur, Guerin started for Paris, where he came under the notice of Vincent, whose counsels were of material service . In 1810 Guerin made his first appearance at the Salon with some portraits, which had a certain success . In 1812 be exhibited " Cain after the murder of Abel " (formerly in Luxembourg), and, on the return of the Bourbons, was much employed in works of restoration and decoration at Versailles . His "Dead Christ" (Cathedral, Baltimore) obtained a medal in 1817, and this success was followed up by a long series of works, of which the following are the more note-worthy: " Christ on the knees of the Virgin " (1819) ; " Anchises and Venus " (1822) (formerly in Luxembourg); " Ulysses and Minerva " (1824) (Musee de Rennes) ; "the Holy Family" (1829) (Cathedral, Toulon); and " Saint Catherine " (1838)(St Ruch) . In his treatment of subject, Guerin attempted to realize rococo graces of conception, the liveliness of which was lost in the strenuous effort to be correct . His chief successes were attained by portraits, and those of Charles Nodier and the Abbe Lamennais became widely popular . He died on the 19th of January 1855 .