Meta-Impressionism / other artists:

Alexandre Cabanel

1823 – 1889

a most awarded and influential artist

 

Introduction:
Cabanel was mainly a Neo-Classicist. He was a most awarded and influential artist. He depicted mythological, religious and historical (mediaval) scenes. He also made many portraits and depicted oriental scenes.
Note: This page has just been started; additional info and pictures will be added later.

 

Cabanel as an artist:
Alexandre Cabanel received the 2nd price of the Prix de Rome in 1845 and afterwards went to Rome.
A recurring theme was Saint Louis d’Alexandre, which he exhibited at the Expositions Universelles of 1855, 1878 and 1889 and also at the Salon of 1877.
Cabanel depicted many historical, religious and mythological themes. Sometimes depicting much drama, which puts him a bit in the Romantic tradition.

 

Cabanel at the Salon:
Cabanel often exhibited at the Salon.
After the Salon in 1863 Napoleon III had bought his ‘birth of Venus’ for 40.000 franc.
In 1865 at the Salon he received a Médaille d’Honneur.

 

Cabanel at the Exposition Universelle:
In 1855 he received a 1st class medal and later the year was appointed in the Légion d’Honneur.
In 1867 Cabanel showed 6 paintings, including 3 portraits, 2 mythological scenes and 1 biblical scene; 2 works were loans of the emperor Napoleon III, who was also rendered in one of the portraits; he received a Grand Prix.
In 1878 he received a Grande médaille d’honneur.
At the Exposition Centennale in 1900 just one painting was shown (R231-2).

 

Cabanel, an influential artist:
In 1863 he became  member of L’Institut at the early age of 40 and stayed so till his death in 1889.
A period of 26 years that was decisive for the Impresssionists.
From 1864 till 1889 he was professor at the École des Beaux-Arts.
From 1868 till 1888 he was 17x member of the jury of the Salon.

 

Cabanel, a high awarded artist:
In 1865 at the Salon and in 1867 at the Exposition Universelle he received a Médaille d’Honneur.
At the Exposition Universelle in 1878 he received a Grande médaille d’honneur.

Cabanel, a highly honoured artist:
Cabanel was appointed in the Légion d’Honneur in 1855 as Chevalier, in 1864 as Officier , in 1884 as Commandeur.

 

Sources:
Catalogues of the Salon (R337; iR1).
Catalogues of the Expositions Universelle (R231).
R3,p60;R259;
Info and pictures on the internet: iR3; iR4; iR6; iR23.
See the link for other general References (=Rx) and to the internet references (=iRx).
See links for practical hints and abbreviations and for the subscription of the paintings.

 

For further reading:

 

Additional references:

1. commons.wikimedia.org//alexandre_cabanel (WikiMedia page with pictures related to Alexandre Cabanel; =iR6)
2. commons.wikimedia.org//paintings_cabanel (WikiMedia page with paintings of Alexandre Cabanel; =iR6)
3. commons.wikimedia.org//portrait_cabanel (WikiMedia page with portraits by Alexandre Cabanel; =iR6)

 

 

Recommanded citation: “Meta-Impressionism: Alexandre Cabanel (1823-1889), a most awarded, néo-classicist artist. Last modified 2025/12/06. https://www.impressionism.nl/alexandre-cabanel-1823-89/”

 

Note: additional info and pictures will be added.