Xavier Sigalon (1787 – 18 August 1837) was a French

painter Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a solid surface (called the "matrix" or "support"). The medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush, but other implements, such as knives, sponges, and ai ...

. He was one of the few leaders of the

romantic movement Romanticism (also known as the Romantic movement or Romantic era) was an artistic, literary, musical, and intellectual movement that originated in Europe towards the end of the 18th century, and in most areas was at its peak in the approximate ...

who cared more for treatment of form than of colour.

Biography

Xavier Sigalon was born in

Uzès Uzès (; ) is a commune in the Gard department in the Occitanie region of Southern France. In 2017, it had a population of 8,454. Uzès lies about north-northeast of Nîmes, west of Avignon and south-east of Alès. History Originally ''Ucetia ...

, Gard, towards the end of 1787, son of a poor rural schoolmaster. With great difficulty he came to

Paris Paris () is the capital and most populous city of France, with an estimated population of 2,165,423 residents in 2019 in an area of more than 105 km² (41 sq mi), making it the 30th most densely populated city in the world in 2020. S ...

and obtained admission to the studio of

Pierre-Narcisse Guérin Pierre-Narcisse, baron Guérin (13 March 1774 – 6 July 1833) was a French painter born in Paris. Background A pupil of Jean-Baptiste Regnault, he carried off one of the three ''grands prix'' offered in 1796, in consequence of the competition ...

. He did not agree with the instruction he was given, and tried to train himself by studying the Italian masters in the gallery of

the Louvre The Louvre ( ), or the Louvre Museum ( ), is the world's most-visited museum, and an historic landmark in Paris, France. It is the home of some of the best-known works of art, including the ''Mona Lisa'' and the ''Venus de Milo''. A central l ...

. In 1822 he exhibited ''The Young Courtesan'', which at once attracted attention and was bought for the Luxembourg. Sigalon continued to challenge himself, producing ''Locusta'' in 1824, and ''Athaliahs Massacre'' in 1827. Both these works showed incontestable power; but the ''Vision of St Jerôme'', which appeared at the

Salon Salon may refer to: Common meanings * Beauty salon, a venue for cosmetic treatments * French term for a drawing room, an architectural space in a home * Salon (gathering), a meeting for learning or enjoyment Arts and entertainment * Salon (P ...

of 1831, and the ''Crucifixion'', were much the most individual of all his achievements. In 1831 he received the cross of the

Legion of Honour The National Order of the Legion of Honour (french: Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur), formerly the Royal Order of the Legion of Honour ('), is the highest French order of merit, both military and civil. Established in 1802 by Napoleon, ...

. His paintings at this time, although powerful in their drawing and composition, were not colorful and did not sell. Sigalon found himself forced to earn a humble living by painting portraits. In 1833

Adolphe Thiers Marie Joseph Louis Adolphe Thiers ( , ; 15 April 17973 September 1877) was a French statesman and historian. He was the second elected President of France and first President of the French Third Republic. Thiers was a key figure in the July Rev ...

, then minister of the interior, recalled Sigalon to Paris and entrusted him with the task of copying the Sistine fresco of ''

The Last Judgement The Last Judgment, Final Judgment, Day of Reckoning, Day of Judgment, Judgment Day, Doomsday, Day of Resurrection or The Day of the Lord (; ar, یوم القيامة, translit=Yawm al-Qiyāmah or ar, یوم الدین, translit=Yawm ad-Dīn, ...

'' for a hall in the Palace of the Fine Arts. His friend

François Souchon François Souchon (1787 – 5 April 1857) was a French painter. Early years François Souchon was born in Alais, Gard, in 1787. In 1809 he went to Paris to study painting. His father gave him a very small allowance while he was studying. He bec ...

agreed to assist Sigalon in this huge task. There was a dispute between the two artists, and Souchon returned to Paris. He was replaced as Sigalon's assistant by Numa Boucoiran. When Sigalon exhibited his gigantic work in the Baths of

Diocletian Diocletian (; la, Gaius Aurelius Valerius Diocletianus, grc, Διοκλητιανός, Diokletianós; c. 242/245 – 311/312), nicknamed ''Iovius'', was Roman emperor from 284 until his abdication in 305. He was born Gaius Valerius Diocles ...

Rome , established_title = Founded , established_date = 753 BC , founder = King Romulus (legendary) , image_map = Map of comune of Rome (metropolitan city of Capital Rome, region Lazio, Italy).svg , map_caption ...

, he was visited in state by

Gregory XVI Pope Gregory XVI ( la, Gregorius XVI; it, Gregorio XVI; born Bartolomeo Alberto Cappellari; 18 September 1765 – 1 June 1846) was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 2 February 1831 to his death in 1 June 1846. He h ...

. Sigalon carried his copy back to Paris in February 1837. He returned to Rome some time later to copy the pendants of the Sistine Chapel, but succumbed to an attack of

cholera Cholera is an infection of the small intestine by some strains of the bacterium ''Vibrio cholerae''. Symptoms may range from none, to mild, to severe. The classic symptom is large amounts of watery diarrhea that lasts a few days. Vomiting and ...

on 18 August 1837.

References

Sources

* * * 1787 births 1837 deaths People from Uzès 19th-century French painters French male painters French romantic painters 19th-century French male artists 18th-century French male artists {{France-painter-18thC-stub