Ernest Meissonier

Ernest Meissonier (1815–1891) was a French painter and sculptor, celebrated for his meticulous historical and military scenes as well as genre paintings of 17th- and 18th-century life. Born in Lyon, the fourth child of a merchant, Meissonier displayed early talent in drawing, studying under Julien Potier and later entering Léon Cogniet’s atelier in Paris. His formative years included work on a Louvre ceiling depicting Napoleon’s Egyptian campaign, which instilled in him a lifelong interest in historical accuracy.

He debuted at the Salon in 1834 with Les Bourgeois flamands and initially produced fans, devotional images, and book illustrations for prominent publishers. A brief military service during the 1848 June Days uprising profoundly impacted him, inspiring the harrowing painting La Barricade, ou Souvenir de la guerre civile, which conveyed the terror and frozen stillness of the revolt.

Meissonier gained early recognition with genre scenes—card players, chess players, and everyday domestic life—which drew comparisons to the Flemish masters. However, it was his military paintings that secured him official acclaim, earning progressive honors in the Légion d’Honneur from Chevalier (1846) to Grand Croix (1889) and election to the Académie des Beaux-Arts in 1861. His scrupulous attention to detail established him as a reference in uniformology and historical reconstruction.

Meissonier also contributed to the revitalization of the Société nationale des beaux-arts in 1890, alongside artists such as Louise Catherine Breslau, Pierre Puvis de Chavannes, Carolus-Duran, Jules Dalou, and Auguste Rodin. He served as president until his death in Paris in 1891. Meissonier’s legacy is that of a masterly academic painter, bridging precision, historical fidelity, and the expressive depth of everyday life.