Emile Signol (1804-1892).
Émile Signol was a French artist who would leave an extensive body of work and an indelible mark on 19th Century painting. His work displayed an incredible sensitivity which often imbued a deep and meaningful allegory, particularly in his History paintings which highlighted what a talented and delicate technique he brought to his studies. Born in Paris in 1804, he would establish himself as a master of verisimilitude, and would bring such honest emotion and realism to both his Portraiture, History and Genre commissions.
During his distinguished career there would prove to be many notable turning points that had contributed to the establishment of his wonderful legacy and arguably the initial pivotal event was when he entered the prestigious École des Beaux-Arts in Paris, where he would study under the likes of Merry-Joseph Blondel, (1781-1853) winner of the Prix de Rome 1803, a French History painter of the Neoclassical School, and Antoine-Jean Gros (1771-1835) who was a highly celebrated History painter and studied under the French Master, Jacques-Louis David, and while a student within his studio, launched his own independent career during the French Revolution, a period that would for a time see him forced to leave France. He would go on to receive much favour, and painted both historical scenes and portraiture, which would provide many turning points, one for example, the painting ‘Bonaparte at the Pont d’Arcole’, which led to his appointment as ‘Inspecteur aux revues’ and later in 1824 he was subsequently made Baron Gros.
Emile Signol would make his Salon debut with a work entitled, ‘Joseph telling his dream to his brothers’, which was the first major recognition and perhaps the start of what would become an impressive body of work, the date being 1824. He too would also win the impressive accolade of ‘Prix de Rome’, for a work entitled, ‘Titulus Crucis’, and while at the Villa Medici in Rome, he would paint a portrait of the composer Hector Berlioz while at the Académie de France before he returned to Paris in 1835.
Photo credit: Galleriedesart.
The next period was arguably the most important in terms of progression when in 1842 he painted the work, ‘The Death of Saphira’, which would receive the blessing of the Church of Sainte Madeleine, and as a result of this would go on to receive further ecclesiastical commissions to decorate the churches of Saint Sévérin, Saint Roch, Saint Eustace and Saint Augustin, and presently four works continue to be on display at Saint-Sulpice in Paris. His work would continue to attract attention and indeed recognition, and he was elected a member of the Académie des Beaux Arts in 1860, together with the Order of Chivalry (1841) and Officer in the Legion of Honour in 1865. This for most would have been the mark of a wonderful career, but Signol would arguably be equally remembered for the work he undertook as a teacher having been the first to hold the seat at the Parisian Académie, with his students such as the now celebrated, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, who amongst many others studied across from the École du Louvre, at the École des Beaux-Arts, as did, Jean-Jules Antoine Lecomte du Nouy, Edouard Castres, Etienne Prosper, Marie Bracquemond and many others, all of which would have no doubt gained much from Signol’s wonderful talent and guiding influence.
Emile Signol undoubtedly left a significant mark on 19th Century painting, not only in the wonderful works that he himself produced, but clearly the impact that he would have had on those that benefitted having studied under him.
Today much of his works can still be seen and enjoyed and very occasionally a work comes to the market for sale, such as ‘The Reclining Woman’ which sold at, Thierry de Maigret, Paris, or the work which we are delighted to have in our collection attributed to Emile Signol entitled ’Portrait of Two Children’, Traditionally Identified as Marie Labbé and her brother, 1850.
It is also a telling testament to him that his work is now reproduced in high quality prints by specialist purveyors enabling his catalogue raisonné to be enjoyed by a much wider audience.
‘What could be more simple and more complex, more obvious and more profound’.
(Charles Baudelaire).
Photo credit: Galleriedesart
Emile Signol died on 4th October 1892, in Montmorency, Paris, France.
Photo Credit: Galleriedesart.