The Prix de Rome awarded to Antoine Charles Horace Vernet in 1782 marked the beginning of a complex trajectory in French art that spanned the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. Often known simply as Carle Vernet, he shifted from classical academic training to the meticulous documentation of military campaigns and the energetic portrayal of equestrian subjects.
Early Development and Academic Training
Born in 1758 in Bordeaux, Vernet received his initial instruction from his father, Claude-Joseph Vernet, and Nicolas-Bernard Lépicié. He displayed a specific focus on drawing horses at age five. Following his 1782 receipt of the Prix de Rome, he spent time in Italy, though his interest in traditional painting wavered during this period. His father eventually intervened to keep him from entering a monastery, returning him to professional practice.
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The French Revolution brought a halt to his career following the execution of his sister. He ceased artistic production until the period of the French Directory, between 1795 and 1799. Upon his return to the craft, his output focused on detailed depictions of Napoleon's campaigns, including the Italian campaign and the Battle of Marengo. His depiction of the morning of Austerlitz earned him recognition within the Legion of Honour.
Later Works and Public Reception
Vernet integrated his deep personal knowledge of horses into his later compositions, which included hunting scenes and racing depictions. He exhibited the Capture of Pamplona, which chronicled the 1823 Siege of Pamplona, at the 1824 Paris Salon. His career eventually bridged the gap between painting and lithography. As a member of the Académie des beaux-arts and the Académie royale de peinture et de sculpture, he remained a fixture of the French art establishment.
Final Years
Vernet maintained his interest in horsemanship throughout his life. Records indicate that he participated in races shortly before his death in Paris in 1836. By the time of his passing at the age of seventy-eight, he held the rank of Officer of the Legion of Honour. He is buried at the Montmartre Cemetery in Paris.
Fast facts
- Born: 1758, Bordeaux
- Died: 1836, Paris
- Occupations: Painter, graphic artist, lithographer
- Prix de Rome: 1782
- Knight of the Legion of Honour: 1808
- Officer of the Legion of Honour: 1836
- Burial site: Montmartre Cemetery
Questions readers ask
What subjects did Carle Vernet prioritize in his art?
He focused primarily on horses, hunting scenes, racing, and military campaigns.
Did the French Revolution affect his work?
Yes, following the execution of his sister, he abandoned artistic production until the French Directory period.
Achievements
- Knight of the Legion of Honour — 1808
- Prix de Rome — 1782
- Officer of the Legion of Honour — 1836
