Ernest Meissonier

Key facts

Lived

1815–1891, French

Movement

• Realism

1. 1861Painted "Innocents and Card Sharpers (A Game of Piquet)" aged 46.
2. 1862Painted "Napoleon I in 1814" aged 47.
3. 1863Painted "Napoleon III at the Battle of Solferino" aged 48.
4. 1864Painted "1814. Campagne de France (Napoleon and his staff returning from Soissons after the Battle of Laon)" aged 49.
5. 1880Painted "Letter to Samuel P Avery with a Drawing of a Military" aged 65.
6. 1886Painted "Marshal Ney on Horseback Fighting the Wind" aged 71.

• What is Ernest Meissonier known for?+

  Ernest Meissonier is known for his Napoleonic military scenes and historical genre paintings. He rendered these with obsessive precision, especially the horses, uniforms, equipment, and terrain.
• What is Ernest Meissonier's most famous work?+

  Ernest Meissonier is best known for his paintings of historical and military subjects, often executed with great attention to detail. One of his most recognised works is probably "Napoleon I, 1814". This painting depicts Napoleon Bonaparte during the French Campaign of 1814. Another very well-known painting by Meissonier is "Friedland, 1807". It portrays Napoleon leading his troops into battle at Friedland. Like many of Meissonier's pieces, it is celebrated for its precision and realism. He made studies of uniforms, horses, and terrain to achieve accuracy. Both "Napoleon I, 1814" and "Friedland, 1807" are significant examples of Meissonier's style. They illustrate his skill in depicting historical events with a high degree of detail. These paintings contributed to his fame and established him as a leading artist of his time. His focus on military themes and meticulous technique set him apart.
• What should I know about Ernest Meissonier's prints?+

  Ernest Meissonier (1815-1891) was a French painter and sculptor who achieved considerable fame and financial success during his lifetime. In 1863, a contemporary noted that no other French painter had received such high honours, with works so eagerly sought after, and material interests so guaranteed by the high prices offered for every piece. Meissonier's paintings commanded extravagant prices and drew large crowds at the annual Paris Salon exhibition at the Palais des Champs-Élysées. So many people wanted to see his art that a policeman had to manage the crowds. Collectors, such as James de Rothschild and the Duc d'Aumale, acquired his paintings as investments. One art critic observed that the prices for Meissonier's work reached unprecedented levels. Eugène Delacroix called him the "incontestable master of our epoch," and Alexandre Dumas fils called him "the painter of France." A newspaper called him "the most artist of our time.
• What style or movement did Ernest Meissonier belong to?+

  Ernest Meissonier (1815-1891) does not fit neatly into a single style or movement. He is best known for his meticulous paintings of historical and military subjects, often set in the Napoleonic era. Some have associated him with aspects of academic art, given his attention to detail and historical accuracy. He earned the nickname "French Metsu" early in his career, a reference to the 17th-century Dutch painter Gabriel Metsu, suggesting an affinity for genre painting and detailed realism. Meissonier's dedication to realism is clear from his working methods. He made studies of horses in motion, observing their rhythm and successive changes in movement. For his military paintings, he collaborated with the French army, studying massed movements and cavalry charges to capture the image of war accurately. His interest in historical accuracy and detail sometimes led him to revise his style based on critical reviews.
• What techniques or materials did Ernest Meissonier use?+

  Ernest Meissonier was known for his meticulous approach to painting. He paid great attention to detail and historical accuracy. Meissonier's son Charles stated that the artist would create elaborate sets and use models in his studio to achieve the desired effect. He would also spend a considerable amount of time researching the historical context of his paintings, ensuring that the costumes, weapons, and other details were correct. Metal tubes for oil paints became more common during Meissonier's career, which aided painting outside. An Englishman received a prize for inventing tin tubes for preserving colours in 1824. Although an American patented collapsible metal tubes in London in 1841, they were in use before then. His working habits were indefatigable.
• What was Ernest Meissonier known for?+

  Ernest Meissonier achieved considerable fame and financial success during his lifetime. In 1863, a contemporary noted that no French painter had received such high honours, eager patronage, or material reward for their work. He commanded extravagant prices and drew large crowds at the annual Paris Salon, where a dedicated policeman managed the throng eager to view his paintings. His collectors included wealthy figures such as James de Rothschild and the Duc d'Aumale; his signature was considered by some to be as valuable as that of the Bank of France. Critical praise accompanied Meissonier's financial success. Eugène Delacroix called him 'the incontestable master of our epoch,' predicting that Meissonier would outlive his contemporaries. Alexandre Dumas fils called him 'the painter of France.' One newspaper described him as 'the most artist of our time.' Meissonier studied horses in motion to accurately depict French military charges. He observed cuirassiers on the parade ground at Saint-Germain-en-Laye, and he rode his own horse alongside them, carefully noting their movements.
• Where can I see Ernest Meissonier's work?+

  During his lifetime, Ernest Meissonier's paintings were highly sought after. His work was shown each year at the Paris Salon, an annual art exhibition held in the Palais des Champs-Élysées. The crowds who came to view his paintings were so large that a special policeman was required to control them. Wealthy collectors, such as James de Rothschild and the Duc d'Aumale, acquired his paintings; his signature was considered to be worth that of the Bank of France. In 1873, Meissonier displayed nine paintings at the Fine Arts Gallery. These included End of a Gambling Quarrel, musketeer scenes, and three Antibes views (one in watercolour). His two patriotic allegories from 1871, The Siege of Paris and The Ruins of the Tuileries, were not included. Instead, he chose to show Friedland.
• Where was Ernest Meissonier from?+

  Ernest Meissonier was a French painter. His friend, the writer Alexandre Dumas, fils, called him 'the painter of France'. A newspaper described him as 'the most artist of our time'. In 1863, it would have been hard to overstate Meissonier's reputation or his wealth. A contemporary claimed that no French painter had ever been awarded such high honours, had their works so eagerly sought after, or had their financial interests so guaranteed by the high prices offered for every work. No artist in France could command Meissonier's prices or excite as much public attention. Each year at the Paris Salon, the space in front of Meissonier's paintings was so crowded that a special policeman was needed to regulate the crowds as they pressed forward to see his latest success.
• Who did Ernest Meissonier influence?+

  Ernest Meissonier's influence is a complex topic, marked by both significant acclaim during his life and a subsequent decline in reputation. He died in 1891, while his fame was still considerable. Henri Delaborde, an art historian, delivered Meissonier's eulogy at the Académie des Beaux-Arts, noting his "glory without eclipse" and the "universal emotion" following his death. However, within a few decades, Meissonier's standing diminished. By 1926, art historian Andre Michel observed the dramatic shift in taste, questioning what remained of Meissonier's once global reputation. Lionello Venturi's history of 19th-century French art omitted him entirely, indicating a near erasure from the art historical record. This dramatic reversal makes it difficult to assess his influence, as his style and subjects fell out of favour with later generations of artists and critics.
• Who influenced Ernest Meissonier?+

  Jean-Louis-Ernest Meissonier (1815-1891) began studying art with the painter Jules Potier, and then Léon Cogniet. Cogniet's instruction was brief, but he allowed Meissonier to study old master paintings. Meissonier also studied with the printmaker Achille Martinet. Meissonier's paintings show the influence of Dutch Golden Age painters such as Pieter de Hooch and Rembrandt van Rijn. These artists informed Meissonier's small scale, his interest in textures, and his close observation. The art collector Alfred Bruyas purchased Meissonier's *The Visit to the Burgomaster* in 1845, comparing it to Dutch paintings. Théophile Thoré, another collector, also noted the connection between Meissonier and Dutch art. Meissonier's military subjects owe a debt to Antoine-Jean Gros. Gros's influence appears in paintings such as *Napoleon and his General Staff*, painted in 1868.
• Who was Ernest Meissonier?+

  Jean-Louis Ernest Meissonier (died 1891) was a French artist. Living in Paris, he died at his mansion on the Boulevard Malesherbes. He was survived by his children and his second wife, Elisa Bezanson; he was buried in the cemetery of La Tournelle in Poissy. The following year, Henri Delaborde, an art historian, delivered Meissonier's eulogy at the annual meeting of the Académie des Beaux-Arts. Meissonier wished to glorify Napoléon Bonaparte, the cuirassiers who had fought for him at Friedland, and the fighting spirit of the French military. He studied charging horses with the help of his son Charles. They would take their horses along the wide bridle path leading from Poissy to Maisons-Laffitte. Meissonier attempted to capture, according to Charles, 'the rhythm and successive modifications of the horse's action.' Meissonier rode his own steed alongside the charging cuirassiers, gazing as if hypnotised, and then frantically noting down everything he witnessed.
• Why are Ernest Meissonier's works important today?+

  Jean-Louis-Ernest Meissonier (1815-1891) was a French painter and sculptor. He is remembered for his paintings of historical subjects, especially military scenes, and for his technical virtuosity. Meissonier's importance today rests primarily on his influence on academic painting and his status as a popular artist during the second half of the 19th century. His meticulous approach to detail and his ability to capture realistic textures made him a favourite among collectors. He commanded high prices for his works. His success reflected the tastes of the time, when detailed realism and historical narratives were highly valued. Although his style fell out of favour with the rise of Impressionism and modern art, Meissonier's works continue to be studied by art historians and appreciated by those interested in 19th-century French art. His paintings offer insights into the period's artistic conventions, social values, and military history. They provide a point of comparison for understanding the development of later artistic movements. His technical skill remains impressive, even if his artistic vision is no longer considered revolutionary.