Jules Joseph Lefebvre was a French artist who specialized in painting charming ladies in the style of classical salon painting, sometimes clothed, or if it was necessary to paint a portrait of some wealthy clientele or nude, under a "fig leaf" of mythical characters - all sorts of naiads and goddesses.
He drew inspiration from the artwork of the Italian Mannerist painters, and credit should be given to the exquisite technique and beauty with which his paintings were created. Although it is fair to say that they are somewhat monotonous, Lefebvre was not particularly eager to find something new in painting, he was quite satisfied with his current status as a salon painter, good his paintings have always found buyers.
Portrait of Edith Warren Miller
Lefebvre came from the Belgian town of Tournay, which at the time was under French jurisdiction. Lefebvre's father was a baker and provided for his family, but wealth was only a dream. A man he was ambitious, seeing that his son shows great ability to paint, advised him to go to Paris, to study at the artist. Young Lefebvre was such a decision of his father was only happy, all his life to bake bread and rolls, he did not particularly wanted, but painting - a different matter. Especially since he went to Paris not empty-handed, and with a letter of recommendation from the Bishop of Amiens. At first, he honed the mastery of landscape at the artist Konye, and then entered the Paris School of Fine Arts. In 1855 he presented at the Paris Salon his first significant painting, which he wrote especially for him, but art critics did not care about the not particularly distinguished artwork of the novice artist.
An allegory of victory
Therefore, swallowing the offense Lefebvre continued to study and write paintings, this time he swung at the Roman Prize, which was awarded to young artists. The winner was given the opportunity to go to Italy at public expense, to study the artwork of the old masters. Impressionists in Paris have not yet announced themselves, and the best classical paintings were in Italy, where all the artists and dreamed of going to see them with their own eyes. However, only 6 years after the Paris exhibition, his painting "The Death of Priam" was awarded first place.
Death of Priam
Lefebvre spent five years in Italy, studying the artwork of Italian artists. He was particularly struck by the paintings of the Mannerist Andrea del Sarto - he carefully copied them, seeking to thoroughly study the manner of this artist.
In Italy, Lefebvre became fascinated and writing nudes, good examples were plentiful, but his first paintings in the genre of nude were defeated by critics. To failures in the creative path added and personal tragedies - the death of his father, mother and his own sister, there was something to fall into despair. Saved by creativity. He moved away from academism, emphasized on female beauty, ideal figures of nude nymphs and goddesses.
His artwork on this theme brought the artist his first notable success with the public.
Mary Magdalene in the grotto.
Then there was the painting "Truth", executed in an allegorical manner. It shows a naked girl holding a mirror, which symbolizes this very truth.
Truth
The public liked the contrast between the girl's perfect figure and the black background, which emphasized every curve of her body even better. There was nothing superfluous in the painting, the female figure became the main figure, not part of a large-scale composition, as was customary in academism.
Lefebvre realized that he had stumbled upon a "gold mine". Many of his artworks were done in a similar vein, in fact, they were variations of The Truth. The titles changed, the faces of the girls changed, but the essence remained the same - a beautiful nude lady who is the center of the picture.
Odalisque
Lefebvre became popular, so there was no shortage of models, he posed for ladies of the half-light and even his daughter Yvonne.
Yvonne
In 1870 Lefebvre began teaching at the Academy Julien. Lefebvre wrote and ordinary salon portraits, for one of them was awarded first place at the world exhibition, and in 1899 became a Knight of the Legion of Honor - the highest state award of France.
Judith
Lefebvre died at the age of 75, leaving behind a rich creative legacy. So, "not serious", according to some art critics, pictures praising female beauty, brought the artist honor, fame, money and respect. Perhaps it was simply a matter of sincerely loving women and painting, as Jules Joseph Lefebvre did.
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