Leon
Basile Perrot France 1832-1908

1832−1908

Biography and information

Leon Bazil Perrot (Leon Bazile Perrault; 1832-1908) - French painter of academic direction.
Leon Perrault was born in Poitiers into a family with modest incomes. His father, Henry at the time was 30 years old, and he worked as a tailor.
At the age of 9, Leon Basile enrolled in Pere Danjou Elementary School. A year later, at the age of 10, he entered a design school in the city of Poitiers, headed by the Heonon brothers.
Soon the teachers noticed the talent of their student. Leon Perrot studied at this school until the age of 14, often winning creative contests. But at the age of 14, I had to quit school and start looking for work, as the family lived in great need.
Leon began to work as a student of the artist of the designer, participated in numerous projects, including the restoration of wall painting in the church de Sainte Radegonde.
In 1851, Perrault took part in a drawing competition and was awarded first place. At 19, he won a grant of 600 francs from the city to study at the prestigious Paris School of Fine Arts for winning this competition.
Perrault becomes a student in the workshop of Francois Edouard Picot (1786-1868), later he continues his studies at the Academy of Fine Arts, then at the Academy of Julian and in the workshop of William Bouguereau (1825-1905), who becomes his lifelong friend. Many art critics emphasize the fact that Perrot was a pupil of Bouguereau. Perhaps it was so, based on their friendly relations, and perhaps Perrault worked together with Bouguereau, accepted his advice and was inspired by his work. But in most of his notes and questionnaires submitted to the Salon, Perrot calls only Pico his teacher.
In the early years of study, Perrault showed an interest in allegorical and religious topics. But, unfortunately, these topics are practically not presented in galleries and information about the artist.
In 1861 he began his career as an academic artist. This was the period of the Second Empire, a time largely shaped by the 1848 revolution.
Henri Marcel in his book “French painting of the 19th century” (La Peinture Française au XIXeme Siècle) wrote: “The Second Empire gave birth to what is called“ painting of style ”.”
After a series of setbacks in contests for the prestigious du Prix de Rome, Leon Perrot entered the Paris Salon.
He made his debut at the Paris Salon in 1860 with the painting The Old Man and the Three Young Men (Poitiers Museum), inspired by the fable of La Fontaine. The picture received an "honorable mention."
Perrault had a great success with the paintings “Christ au tombeau” and “la Descente de Croix” at the Salon 1863, and was also awarded the Salon’s incentive prize in 1864 for “La Frayeur” (Fright). By the way, the artist exhibited at the Salon until his death. For 46 years of creative life Perrault was absent from the exhibitions of the Salon only 4 years. The presence of the artist in the Salon was an important indicator of his popularity among the public and recognition among his colleagues.
Perrot at the beginning successfully wrote military scenes, for example “Le Mobillisé”. He was considered an experienced battle painter, he even performed several works in collaboration with the Studio of Oras Vernet (1789-1863) in 1862 and 1864.
In 1866, Napoleon III himself bought his “Nestled” canvas.
In addition, Perrault was awarded the prestigious Salon Jury Prize. In 1868 Perrault was invited to participate in an art exhibition in Boston, USA, and in 1873 he was appointed to represent France as a culture diplomat ("diplôme d'honneur") in Vienna, Philadelphia and London, where Perrault received an honorary diploma.
In 1876, for the painting "St. John the Baptist," the artist receives a second-class medal; in 1878, he was awarded another silver medal.
In 1882, Perrault offered two versions of the image of the Republic at the announced competition, and they were used to decorate the Palace of the wedding and the Hotel de Ville de Poitiers.
In 1887, his friends from the Society of French artists put forward the candidacy of the artist, and he became a Knight of the Order of the Legion of Honor. At the same time, the artist receives a large order from the Ministry of Public Relations.
At the World Exhibition in 1889, Perrault received a bronze medal, and in 1900 at the same exhibition another one - a silver one.
Goupil & Co. reproduces reproductions of his paintings, distributing them abroad. The artist is quickly becoming popular in England and the United States.
The American magazine The Century, wrote that this "refined French gentleman spends 10 hours a day, working in his studio."
Especially popular were the paintings by Perrault, depicting children - while playing or against the background of flowers. Philip Hook in the book "Popular genre painters of the 19th century: a dictionary of European painters" explains the interest in the children's topic:
The roots of this kind of sentimental painting must be sought at the end of the eighteenth century. During the nineteenth century, attitudes toward children were crystallized into various stereotypes: innocence. This love for the children's theme had its origins in the fact that Perrot was an excellent family man and loving father. He was married to Marie-Louise (1840-1920), they had 2 boys - Emil and Henri, and 4 girls, another daughter Alice died at the age of 9 in 1880.
Henri, following in the footsteps of his father, became an artist, was engaged in illustrations, and later was the director of the city Museum of Poitiers.
Emil had a brilliant career as an animal sculptor; he was married to the writer Miriam Harry.
Perrault was a member of the Society of French Artists, and by the end of his life he received the title “hors concours” at the Salon, allowing him to display paintings without being presented to the jury of the Salon.
In recent years, the artist moved to live in the resort town of Royan, because he suffered from heart failure. He was often visited by a friend of U. Bouguereau, until the last day they remained close friends. In 1868, Perrault became godmother of the third child Bouguereau.
On August 6, 1908, Leon Perrot’s heart stopped. The artist was buried in Passy cemetery.
In October 1910, a monument to Perrault in the park Blossac was erected in the city of Poitiers, it is preserved to this day.
Most of his paintings are represented in private American collections, although they are represented in some museums, for example, in the museums of Bordeaux, Poitiers, La Rochelle and Stuttgart. Vulnerability, love.