Alexandre Cabanel

Alexandre Cabanel is a representative painter of 19th century France and is known as a master of academic painting. Many of his works are based on mythology, history, and religion, and he is highly regarded for his realistic depiction and his pursuit of idealized beauty.

Alexandre Cabanel Biography

• Born September 28, 1823 in Montpellier, southern France.
• In 1845, he won the Prix de Rome, and after studying in Italy, established himself in the art world.
• In 1863, he became a professor at the École des Beaux-Arts and trained many students.
• Died in Paris on January 23, 1889 (aged 65)

Representative works

• The Birth of Venus (1863)
• The Fallen Angel (1847)
• The Death of Cleopatra (1874)
• Flora (1875)

Cabanel's style of painting is characterized by his meticulous drawing skills and his outstanding sense of color. He portrayed mythological and historical figures with idealized beauty, and produced many works that combine sensuality and tranquility.

In his representative work, "The Birth of Venus," he expresses the sensual beauty of the goddess with her smooth skin and graceful curves, while in "Fallen Angel," he portrays the tragic fate of the fallen angel through the dramatic contrast of light and shadow.

Cabanel was highly acclaimed during his lifetime, but his popularity waned with the rise of Impressionism. However, in recent years he has been reevaluated, and his achievements are being reassessed as a representative painter of Academic painting. His works, which combine refined technique with the pursuit of ideal beauty, continue to fascinate viewers even today.