Charles Verlat, an influential Belgian painter born in Antwerp in 1824, navigated the evolving landscape of 19th-century European art through diverse technical mastery. His career spanned from rigorous academic training to the adoption of Realist principles, eventually establishing him as a significant educator and director within the Antwerp Academy until his death in 1890.
Early Development and Training
Born to a manufacturer of soap, oil, and soda, Verlat received initial instruction from Dutch sculptor Johannes Antonius van der Ven. He left traditional schooling at fourteen to study at the studio of Nicaise de Keyser, a pivotal figure in the Romantic-historical school. His formal education continued at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts under Gustave Wappers and Josephus Laurentius Dyckmans, grounding his early output in traditional Belgian historical subjects.
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Take the IQ test →Transition to Realism in Paris
Moving to Paris in 1850, Verlat studied under Ary Scheffer and Jean-Hippolyte Flandrin. His artistic trajectory shifted toward Realism, famously demonstrated in his 1857 work depicting two struggling horses. The painting drew harsh criticism from French critics, prompting Verlat to respond with a satirical painting of a monkey. Despite these clashes, he solidified his reputation as a specialized painter of animals and religious scenes.
Weimar and Middle Eastern Travels
In 1869, Charles Alexander, Grand Duke of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach, invited Verlat to lead a painting class at the Grand-Ducal Saxon Art School. During this Weimar period, he painted portraits of figures like Franz Liszt. Between 1875 and 1877, he traveled to Cairo and Jerusalem, seeking firsthand observation of environments for his religious compositions, including Vox populi and Vox Dei.
Leadership at the Antwerp Academy
Returning to Antwerp in 1877, Verlat became a professor at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts. He later joined the board of the institution, influencing a generation of painters including Edward Arthur Fellowes Prynne. In 1886, he served as director during a brief tenure by Vincent van Gogh, with whom he reportedly held conflicting views regarding drawing styles. Verlat was buried at Schoonselhof following his death.
Fast facts
- Born: 1824, Antwerp
- Died: 1890, Antwerp
- Education: Royal Academy of Fine Arts
- Movement: Realism
- Notable work: Een beer overvalt een houthakker, genaamd 'Strijd op leven en dood'
- Notable work: A dog barks at a cockatoo
- Resting place: Schoonselhof
- Primary language: French
Questions readers ask
Did Verlat have any famous students?
Yes, his students included Max Liebermann in Weimar and Edward Arthur Fellowes Prynne in Antwerp.
What subjects did Verlat primarily paint?
He was particularly known for animalier works, portraits, Orientalist scenes, genre paintings, religious compositions, and still lifes.
Achievements
- Notable work: Een beer overvalt een houthakker, genaamd 'Strijd op leven en dood'
- Notable work: A dog barks at a cockatoo
- Movement: realism
