The artistic output of Ary Scheffer gained significant traction through his thematic focus on literature and religion, bridging the aesthetic sensibilities of the Netherlands and France. Operating as a painter, sculptor, and lithographer during the Romantic era, he secured a position within the French social and political elite before distancing himself from public life following the 1848 uprisings.
Early Development and Training
Born in Dordrecht in 1795 to painter Johan Bernard Scheffer and portrait miniature artist Cornelia Lamme, Ary Scheffer entered the Amsterdam drawing academy at age 11. Following his father’s death in 1809 and encouragement from Willem Bilderdijk, he moved to Lille before settling in Paris in 1811. There, he refined his craft under Pierre-Narcisse Guérin at the École des Beaux-Arts, establishing the foundation for a career that would later see him produce works ranging from pastels to large-scale oils.
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Scheffer’s career became deeply intertwined with the Orléans family when he began serving as a drawing tutor for the children of Duke Louis-Philippe in 1822. This role facilitated high-profile commissions and secured his status within the French establishment. By 1830, his political involvement peaked when he and Adolphe Thiers lobbied Louis-Philippe to lead the nation. His influence persisted until the 1848 French Revolution, during which he served as a captain in the Garde Nationale, eventually abandoning his political ambitions after witnessing the civil unrest of the June Days Uprising.
Artistic Style and Subject Matter
Moving away from the dominant currents of his Romantic contemporaries like Delacroix, Scheffer adopted a disciplined, classical approach. He frequently drew inspiration from Dante, Goethe, Lord Byron, and Walter Scott. His 1836 piece, Francesca da Rimini and Paolo Malatesta, exemplifies his technique, utilizing flowing drapery to convey movement and instability. His later output focused on religious themes, including Christus Consolator and St Augustine and Monica, reflecting a transition in his professional output toward spiritual narrative.
Professional Recognition and Later Years
Throughout his life, Scheffer received formal recognition, including the titles of Officer and Commander of the Legion of Honour. A member of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, he maintained dual citizenship ties with France and the Netherlands. Following his 1850 marriage to Sophie Marin and his formal naturalization as a French citizen, he struggled with a heart condition. He died in 1858 in Argenteuil and was interred at the Montmartre Cemetery.
Fast facts
- Born: 1795, Dordrecht
- Died: 1858, Argenteuil
- Citizenship: France and Kingdom of the Netherlands
- Primary Movement: Romanticism
- Key Awards: Commander of the Legion of Honour
- Notable Works: Francesca da Rimini, Battle of Tolbiac, Christus Consolator
- Burial Site: Montmartre Cemetery
- Professional Organizations: Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences
Questions readers ask
What subjects did Ary Scheffer prefer in his paintings?
He focused primarily on literary themes inspired by Dante, Goethe, Lord Byron, and Walter Scott, alongside religious motifs such as the life of Christ.
Did Scheffer have a formal role in French politics?
Yes, he was a drawing teacher to the children of King Louis-Philippe and served as a captain in the Garde Nationale during the 1848 uprisings.
Achievements
- Commander of the Legion of Honour
- Officer of the Legion of Honour
- Notable work: Battle of Tolbiac
- Notable work: Charlemagne at Paderborn
- Notable work: Francesca da Rimini and Paolo Malatesta appraised by Dante and Virgil
- Movement: Romanticism
