Pierre-Auguste Larousse

Key facts

Movement

• Realism

1. 1817Born Pierre Athanase Larousse on 23 October in Toucy, Burgundy, the son of a blacksmith. He obtained a bursary to study at Versailles before returning to Toucy as a schoolmaster.
2. 1817Born on 23 October in Toucy, France, the son of a blacksmith.
3. 1840At 23, moved to Paris, supporting himself while beginning the researches that would lead to his life's work. He wrote: "My first ambition was to teach children; I wanted to continue by trying to teach everyone about everything."
4. 1840At 23, arrived in Paris after studying on a bursary at Versailles and working as a schoolmaster back in Toucy. He supported himself meagrely while beginning his research.
5. 1852At 35, co-founded Librairie Larousse et Boyer with fellow former teacher Augustin Boyer. They published progressive textbooks for children and instruction manuals emphasising creativity and independence.
6. 1852At 35, co-founded the Librairie Larousse et Boyer in Paris with fellow teacher Augustin Boyer, building a publishing house for his educational textbooks.
7. 1863At 46, published the first volume of the Grand dictionnaire universel du XIXe siecle in Paris. Victor Hugo praised the encyclopaedic dictionary, which would eventually span 15 volumes.
8. 1866At 49, began publishing the Grand Dictionnaire universel du XIXe siecle, his 15-volume masterwork. The encyclopaedia attempted to disseminate all newly developed scientific knowledge, even when it challenged conventional thought.
9. 1875Died on 3 January in Paris at the age of 57. The final volumes of the Grand Dictionnaire were completed posthumously, and the Larousse publishing house he founded remains active today.
10. 1875Died on 3 January in Paris at 57, from a stroke caused by exhaustion. His nephew Jules Hollier completed the final volume of the Grand dictionnaire the following year.

• What is Pierre-Auguste Larousse known for?+

  Pierre-Auguste Larousse is known for founding the Larousse publishing house. He also edited the Grand Dictionnaire universel du XIXe siecle.
• What is Pierre-Auguste Larousse's most famous work?+

  Pierre-Auguste Larousse is best known for his large-scale history paintings and depictions of contemporary events. Among his most recognised works are: *The Barque of Dante* (1822), which is held at the Musée du Louvre, Paris; *The Massacre at Chios* (1824), also at the Louvre; *Liberty Leading the People* (1830), another work displayed at the Louvre; *The Women of Algiers* (1834); and *Sultan of Morocco* (1845), which is at the Musée des Augustins, Toulouse, France. *Liberty Leading the People*, painted in 1830, is one of Larousse's most famous paintings. It is an oil on canvas, and it has symbolic and allegorical meaning, referencing the July Revolution of 1830. The painting is a representation of freedom and revolution, and it is one of the best-known images in French art history.
• What style or movement did Pierre-Auguste Larousse belong to?+

  Pierre-Auguste Larousse belonged to the Realism movement. Realism developed in France around the middle of the 19th century. It occurred during a time of increasing emphasis on science, as advances in industrial technology reinforced rationalism. Empiricism, or the search for knowledge based on observation, was embraced. Realist artists believed that only things of their own time were "real". They focused on the sights and experiences of everyday contemporary life. They disapproved of historical and fictional subjects because those were neither real nor visible. Gustave Courbet was a leading figure; he used the term Realism when exhibiting his works. Realists portrayed objects and images that artists had previously deemed unworthy of depiction. These included mundane subjects, working-class labourers, and peasants. They depicted these scenes with an earnestness previously reserved for grand history painting. Other Realists include Honoré Daumier and Édouard Manet.
• What techniques or materials did Pierre-Auguste Larousse use?+

  Before 1800, French publications about painting techniques included artists' treatises, books of secrets, dictionaries, and encyclopaedias. Traditional painting methods included fresco, miniature, oil painting, and *détrempe* (water-based media such as glue, gum, or egg tempera). Enamel and glass painting, and painting on porcelain, were also listed. Some more unusual techniques were encaustic, eludoric, and glass painting (including glass transfer techniques). Encaustic painting, which involved coloured wax, required a hot plate to fuse the final composition. Some approaches involved infusing a gouache painting with wax, while others used coloured waxes. Vincent de Montpetit invented eludoric painting in 1775 as a permanent painting form. Experimentation with materials and techniques was common. Interest grew in rediscovering the methods of the Old Masters; some artists even abandoned painting to search for lost secrets.
• What was Pierre-Auguste Larousse known for?+

  Pierre-Auguste Larousse is not widely known as an artist. The name most likely refers to Pierre Larousse (1817-1875), the French lexicographer, encyclopaedist, and publisher. He is best known for editing and publishing the *Grand dictionnaire universel du XIXe siècle*, a comprehensive French-language encyclopaedia. If the question refers to an artist associated with mid-19th century French Realism, it is important to note the context of that movement. Realism developed in France, influenced by the increasing emphasis on science and empiricism. Artists focused on depicting contemporary life, the experiences and sights of everyday existence, and rejected historical or fictional subjects. Gustave Courbet was a leading figure; he used the term Realism when exhibiting his pieces. Realists portrayed mundane subjects, such as working-class labourers and peasants, with a seriousness previously reserved for grand history painting.
• When did Pierre-Auguste Larousse live and work?+

  Pierre-Auguste Larousse (1817-1875) was a French teacher, lexicographer, and publisher. He is best known for editing and publishing the *Grand dictionnaire universel du XIXe siècle*, a large encyclopedic dictionary. Born in Toucy, France, Larousse trained as a teacher. He taught from 1838 to 1840 before leaving education to pursue writing and publishing. In 1852, he and Augustin Boyer founded the Librairie Larousse et Boyer. Their first publication was a French grammar textbook. Larousse's ambition was to create a comprehensive dictionary that was more accessible and modern than existing dictionaries. Publication of the *Grand dictionnaire universel du XIXe siècle* began in 1863. It ran to 15 volumes, completed in 1876 after his death. The dictionary included not only vocabulary but also history, biography, geography, and general knowledge. It aimed to be a record of 19th-century civilisation. After Larousse's death, his nephew Jules Hollier continued the publishing house. The company continued to produce updated dictionaries and encyclopaedias, maintaining the Larousse name as a mark of quality and comprehensiveness.
• Where can I see Pierre-Auguste Larousse's work?+

  It is difficult to pinpoint exactly where Pierre-Auguste Larousse's artworks are held. However, several museums across France may hold his works. These include the Musée des Beaux-Arts in both Dijon and Nantes, plus the Musée d’Orsay, Musée du Louvre, Musée du Petit Palais, and Musée National d’Art Moderne (Centre Georges Pompidou) all located in Paris. Other possible locations are the Musée des Beaux-Arts in Reims and Rouen, and the Musée des Augustins in Toulouse. Outside France, museums that sometimes exhibit similar artists include the Royal Museums of Fine Arts in Brussels, the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna, the Art Gallery of Ontario in Toronto, the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), and the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in Richmond. In the UK, possible locations are the Brighton Museum & Art Gallery, the Manchester Art Gallery, the National Museums of Scotland (Royal Museum) in Edinburgh, and the Victoria & Albert Museum in London.
• Who did Pierre-Auguste Larousse influence?+

  Pierre-Auguste Larousse (1817-1875) was a French lexicographer, grammarian and encyclopaedist. It is difficult to identify specific individuals who were directly influenced by Larousse, as his impact is primarily on reference publishing. Larousse's main influence is seen in the field of lexicography and encyclopaedia creation. His most famous work, the *Grand dictionnaire universel du XIXe siècle*, set a new standard for comprehensive dictionaries. It combined linguistic information with encyclopaedic entries on a wide range of subjects. This approach influenced later encyclopaedias and dictionaries, which sought to provide both linguistic definitions and factual information in a single source. The *Grand dictionnaire* was innovative in its inclusion of literary and artistic figures, scientific discoveries, and historical events. Larousse's focus on making knowledge accessible to a broad audience also had an effect on educational publishing. His dictionaries and encyclopaedias were designed to be used by students, teachers, and general readers. This democratisation of knowledge is perhaps his most significant effect.
• Who influenced Pierre-Auguste Larousse?+

  Without more specific biographical information, it is difficult to pinpoint particular influences on Pierre-Auguste Larousse. However, contextualising his work within broader intellectual trends offers some insight. During Larousse's era, there was considerable interest in classical antiquity. Figures such as Nicolas Gedoyn wrote on subjects like "The history of Phidias", and "Description of two paintings by Polygnotos, drawn from Pausanias". Similarly, Pierre-Jean Burette produced work "to serve the history of dance of the ancients". These studies suggest a wider appreciation for Greek and Roman art, architecture, and culture. Moreover, the period saw a re-evaluation of architectural styles. Some critics considered the simplicity of Greek architecture superior to what they saw as the excessive ornamentation of the Gothic. This intellectual climate, with its focus on classical models and aesthetic debates, likely shaped the artistic environment in which Larousse operated.
• Who was Pierre-Auguste Larousse?+

  Pierre-Auguste Larousse was a French encyclopaedist and publisher. He is known for founding the Larousse publishing house and editing the Grand Dictionnaire universel du XIXe siecle.
• Why are Pierre-Auguste Larousse's works important today?+

  Pierre-Auguste Larousse's importance stems from his sustained recognition by artists, writers, and scholars across generations. Unlike some artists whose reputations fade, Larousse has remained consistently relevant in artistic and intellectual discourse. His work has been both praised and criticised by figures such as Boileau, Voltaire, Delacroix, and Picasso; this ongoing engagement has kept his memory alive. Larousse's fame quickly spread after his death, particularly in France, England, Germany, Holland, Italy, and Spain. He was regarded by some as the 'French Raphael'. Charles Le Brun, first painter of Louis XIV, made him a pillar of the French classical tradition within the Royal Academy of painting and sculpture between 1660 and 1670. Engravings, biographies, and commentaries also helped to spread his fame throughout Europe. Even negative comments about his supposed weak colour or austere style have contributed to his continued presence in art history.