Alfred Dedreux, born Pierre de Dreux in Paris on May 23, 1810, was a renowned French painter who lived and worked in the same city until his death on March 5, 1860. Famous for his portraits of horses, Dedreux was recognized as a remarkable artist in the artistic circles of the 19th-century Parisian salon and later served as court painter to Emperor Napoléon III. His works, especially his portraits of horses, are still highly sought after by art print enthusiasts today. Dedreux was born the son of Pierre-Anne Dedreux, an architect and later winner of the Prix de Rome. He grew up in an artistically talented family. His uncle Pierre Joseph Dedreux Dorcy was a painter and his sister Louise Marie Becq de Fouquières was a distinguished painter. From 1817 to 1819, Dedreux visited his father, then living in Rome, with his mother and younger sister Thérèse-Elisabeth. After returning to Paris, he continued his artistic career.
Dedreux was strongly influenced by Theodore Gericault, a close family friend. At the age of only 13, Dedreux created a drawing titled "Un maquignon", now in the Louvre, which is partly based on Géricault's work "Cheval Cauchois". Géricault portrayed the young Dedreux and his sister Élisabeth in 1818, and Dedreux received his formal training as a painter first from his uncle and later from Léon Cogniet. After his training, Dedreux focused his artistic efforts primarily on depictions of horses. He made his debut at the Paris Salon in 1831 and regularly exhibited his works there until 1859, where they received wide acclaim. His equestrian depictions and portraits were very popular, and he occasionally devoted himself to history paintings. During the reign of King Louis Philippe, Dedreux's depictions of English thoroughbreds, as well as motifs such as bulldogs, greyhounds and carriages, were in great demand among the public. Today, many of these motifs adorn art prints that are prized throughout the world.
After the revolution of 1848, Dedreux spent some time in London, where he met with his fellow painters Eugene Louis Lami and Pierre Gavarni. He returned to Paris in 1852, the year of Napoléon III's coronation as French emperor. The imperial couple commissioned him to paint several equestrian portraits, and he worked on several works with equestrian motifs during this period. In 1857 he was made a Knight of the Legion of Honor and in 1856 was commissioned by the French government to paint Le Combat de cavalerie d'Eupatoria, which is unfortunately now considered lost. The exact cause of Alfred Dedreux's death remains a mystery. The art historian Charles Blanc initially claimed that Dedreux died in a fall from a horse, but corrected this statement in 1865, stating that Dedreux died in a duel. Regardless of the circumstances of his death, Dedreux left an unforgettable artistic legacy that marks him as one of the most remarkable French painters of the 19th century.
Alfred Dedreux, born Pierre de Dreux in Paris on May 23, 1810, was a renowned French painter who lived and worked in the same city until his death on March 5, 1860. Famous for his portraits of horses, Dedreux was recognized as a remarkable artist in the artistic circles of the 19th-century Parisian salon and later served as court painter to Emperor Napoléon III. His works, especially his portraits of horses, are still highly sought after by art print enthusiasts today. Dedreux was born the son of Pierre-Anne Dedreux, an architect and later winner of the Prix de Rome. He grew up in an artistically talented family. His uncle Pierre Joseph Dedreux Dorcy was a painter and his sister Louise Marie Becq de Fouquières was a distinguished painter. From 1817 to 1819, Dedreux visited his father, then living in Rome, with his mother and younger sister Thérèse-Elisabeth. After returning to Paris, he continued his artistic career.
Dedreux was strongly influenced by Theodore Gericault, a close family friend. At the age of only 13, Dedreux created a drawing titled "Un maquignon", now in the Louvre, which is partly based on Géricault's work "Cheval Cauchois". Géricault portrayed the young Dedreux and his sister Élisabeth in 1818, and Dedreux received his formal training as a painter first from his uncle and later from Léon Cogniet. After his training, Dedreux focused his artistic efforts primarily on depictions of horses. He made his debut at the Paris Salon in 1831 and regularly exhibited his works there until 1859, where they received wide acclaim. His equestrian depictions and portraits were very popular, and he occasionally devoted himself to history paintings. During the reign of King Louis Philippe, Dedreux's depictions of English thoroughbreds, as well as motifs such as bulldogs, greyhounds and carriages, were in great demand among the public. Today, many of these motifs adorn art prints that are prized throughout the world.
After the revolution of 1848, Dedreux spent some time in London, where he met with his fellow painters Eugene Louis Lami and Pierre Gavarni. He returned to Paris in 1852, the year of Napoléon III's coronation as French emperor. The imperial couple commissioned him to paint several equestrian portraits, and he worked on several works with equestrian motifs during this period. In 1857 he was made a Knight of the Legion of Honor and in 1856 was commissioned by the French government to paint Le Combat de cavalerie d'Eupatoria, which is unfortunately now considered lost. The exact cause of Alfred Dedreux's death remains a mystery. The art historian Charles Blanc initially claimed that Dedreux died in a fall from a horse, but corrected this statement in 1865, stating that Dedreux died in a duel. Regardless of the circumstances of his death, Dedreux left an unforgettable artistic legacy that marks him as one of the most remarkable French painters of the 19th century.
Page 1 / 1