Charles-Leon Vinit

Bio

Vinit’s training as a student of the architects and designers Charles Percier and François Debret provided him with a firm understanding of perspective and line and together with the time he spent studying with the landscapist Rémond he was well-equipped for his career as a painter of urban views and monuments. As Percier’s assistant Vinit was involved in every aspect of architecture and evidently considered a career in that discipline. However a trip to Italy and Egypt inspired him to choose to be a professional painter and, after leaving Rémond’s studio, he joined the staff of the école des Beaux Arts where his father had served as agent for many years. Upon the latter’s death Vinit succeeded him in the post and in 1853 was appointed Perpetual Secretary of the école. He first exhibited at the Salon of 1838 (the View of the Cathedral of Palermo shown here, no. ) and at each succeeding Salon until 1845, then at those of 1850 and 1852, from which time his duties at the école prevented him from pursuing his artistic career full time. His best known work is The View of the Second Court of the école des Beaux Arts, shown at the 1850 Salon, and now in the Musée des Augustins, Toulouse (fig. 1).