Flandrin, JEAN HIPPOLYTE

Flandrin, JEAN HIPPOLYTE, historical and portrait painter, was born at Lyons, 23d May 1809, the son of a miniature-painter. After studying in his native town, he proceeded in 1829 to Paris, where he attended the School of Fine Arts. But he also worked under Ingres, who was his true master; and from him he imbibed that love of severe and definite form and that classical feeling which he used for his own ends in his religious painting. He had a severe struggle with ill-health, and endured many privations; but in 1832 he won the Prix de Rome by his 'Recognition of Theseus;' and before his five years' residence in Italy was completed he had produced his fine rendering of 'St Clair healing the Blind,' now in the cathedral of Nantes. Henceforward he was mainly occupied with decorative monumental work, though he also executed many admirable portraits. In 1842 he began his great frescoes of 'Christ entering Jerusalem,' and 'Christ going up to Calvary,' in the sanctuary of the church of St Germain-des-Prés, Paris, deeply impressive works, which already entitled their painter to rank as the greatest religious painter of the century. The choir of the same church he adorned (1846-48) with figures of the Saints and the Virtues. He also decorated the church of St Paul at Nîmes (1847-49), the church of St Martin d'Ainay at Lyons (1855), and painted the frieze of St Vincent de Paul, in Paris, with a noble series of saints and martyrs. In 1855 he began his last great work in the nave of St Germain-des-Prés, consisting of subjects from the Old and New Testaments, of which some were left uncompleted at his death, at Rome, 21st March 1864. His Lettres et Pensées, with a memoir and a catalogue of his works, were issued by the Count Delaborde, in 1865. See also Lives by Poncet (1864) and Monnard (1876).