Alexandre-Louis Leloir
Alexandre-Louis Leloir, also known as Louis Leloir, was a French painter specializing in genre and history paintings.Life and career
Alexandre-Louis Leloir was born in Paris, France. He was born into a family with a rich artistic heritage, the son of the painter and fashion illustrator HĂ©loĂŻse Colin and the grandson of the painter Alexandre-Marie Colin. His younger brother was the painter and illustrator Maurice Leloir.
Leloir received his early art education from his parents and his maternal grandfather, Alexandre Colin, who had been a pupil of Girodet. In 1860, Leloir entered the École des Beaux-Arts and made several attempts to win the prestigious Prix de Rome. In 1861, he won a Second Grand Prix with The Death of Priam, then again in 1862, 1863, and again won a Second Grand Prize in 1864 with Homer on the island of Scyros. He received a medal at the Paris Exposition in 1878. He also distinguished himself in the contest of the Half-figure Painted in 1864.
Specializing in historical subject matter and genre scenes, he participated in the Salon as early as 1863, with a scene of the Massacre of Innocents. His work The Fight of Jacob with the Angel'' presented at the Salon of 1865 is an example of his virtuosity. From 1868, he directed his painting towards genre scenes, drawing inspiration from medieval everyday life, from the interiors of the Grand Siècle, in the Dutch manner, and in Orientalist scenes. He illustrated some editions published by Damase Jouaust, and also illustrated books by Molière and other notable authors. He participated in the foundation of the Society of French Watercolourists in 1879. He was made a Chevalier of the Legion of Honor in 1876.Selected works
- La Mort de Priam, 1861, Guéret, Musée d'art et d'archéologie
- VĂ©turie aux Pieds de Coriolan,, 1862, Location unknown
- Joseph Reconnu par ses Frères, 1863, Private Collection
- Le Massacre des Innocents,, 1863, Niort, Musée Bernard d'Agesci
- Demi Figure Peinte,, 1864, Paris, École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts
- Homère dans l'île de Scyros,, 1864, Colmar, Musée d'Unterlinden
- Daniel dans la Fosse aux Lions,, 1864, Location unknown, formerly in Douai, Musée de la Chartreuse
- Lutte de Jacob et l'Ange,, 1865, Clermont-Ferrand, Musée d'Art Roger-Quilliot
- Baptême des Sauvages aux îles Canaries,, 1868, Angers, musée des Beaux-Arts
- Le Guet-apens,, 1869, Paris, musée du Petit-Palais
- Tentation,, 1869, Private Collection
- Le Choix du Dîner,, 1872, New-York, Metropolitan Museum of Art
- Interlude Musical,, Location unknown, 1874
- A Chariot of Swallow, Date unknown
