Baron Pierre-Narcisse Guerin

Bio

Guérin may be considered one of the leaders of the neoclassical movement which, led by Vien and then his pupil David, reached its apogee at the turn of the eighteenth century. From a young age his artistic career was encouraged by his parents, his precocious beginnings accorded him early success. He first entered the studio of Brenet and continued his studies with Regnault. In 1797 at the age of twenty-three, Guérin won first prize in the coveted Prix de Rome. The Return of Marcus Sextus , considered one of his masterpieces, was painted two years later in 1799, establishing his reputation as a leading painter of the neoclassical school. By 1814 he was a master at the École des Beaux-Arts. Although he initially refused the directorship of the Academy in Rome, he accepted the position in 1822. In 1829 he was elevated by the King to the rank of Baron like his near contemporaries Gros and Gérard. As a teacher he moved away from academic neoclassicism and it is no surprise that among his most renowned romantic students were Géricault, Delacroix, and Scheffer.