Gericault, Jean Louis Andre Theodore (Gricault Jean Louis Andr Thodore)

(1791-1824)
Born September 26, 1791 in Rouen. He studied in Paris with C. Vernet and Dzh.B.P.Gerena, copied the works of old masters in the Louvre. Success came to him after a painting officer huntsmen on horseback, going to attack (Paris, Louvre), exhibited at the Salon of 1812. During his stay in Italy in 1816-1817 Gericault discovered the art of Michelangelo. His compositions have become more daring and confident, that's been manifested in the preparatory sketches for the painting horses Running free (Louvre). Gericault's famous painting depicting the shipwreck - Raft of Medusa (Louvre), exhibited at the Salon of 1819, has attracted interest because of its frank realism and bold antiklassicheskoy orientation. 1820-1822 Gericault spent in England, where he met with the tradition Colorism, while little known on the continent, saw engravings depicting sporting scenes and episodes from daily life of the people. A painting of a horse race at Epsom Derby (1822, Paris, Louvre) anticipates some of the effects of painting the Impressionists. Among the works by Gericault, made after his return to France, Landscape with a stove for burning lime (1823, Paris, Louvre) and five paintings depicting the insane (Louvre, Paris, Lyon, Ghent and private collection). Gericault died Jan. 24, 1824.