Pierre Paul Prud'hon

Pierre-Paul Prud'hon (April 4 1758 - February 16 1823) was a French Romantic painter and draughtsman best known for his allegorical paintings and portraits. Prud'hon was at times clearly influenced by Neo-classicism, at other times by Romanticism. Appreciated by other artists and writers like Stendhal, Delacroix, Millet and Baudelaire for his chiaroscuro and convincing realism, he is probably most famous for his "Crucifixion" (1822), which he painted for St. Etienne's Cathedral in Metz. "Crucifixion" now hangs in the Louvre. ( [http://www.wga.hu/frames-e.html?/html/p/prudhon/7crucifi.html "Crucifixion" at Web Gallery of Art] )Pierre Paul Prud'hon received his training in the French provinces and went to Italy when he was twenty-six years old to continue his education. On his return to Paris, he decorated some private mansions and his work for wealthy Parisians led him to be held in high esteem at Napoleon's court. His painting of Josephine portrays her, not as an Empress but as a lovely attractive woman which led some to think that he might have been in love with her. After the divorce of Napoleon and Josephine, he was also employed by Napoleon' s second wife Marie-Louise.

( [http://cgfa.sunsite.dk/p/p-24.htm#prudhon Gallery at CGFA] )