The painting of Venice by François-Louis David Bocion currently hangs within the meeting chamber of the Council of State in the Canton of Vaud. This Swiss painter spent the bulk of his career documenting the landscapes surrounding Lake Geneva, establishing a reputation as a specialist in the geographic aesthetics of his homeland throughout the nineteenth century.
Early Life and Education
Born in 1828 in Lausanne, François-Louis David Bocion was the youngest of five children born to Henri-Louis Bocion, a carpenter, and his wife, Suzanne-Catherine. Following his father's death in 1835, the family experienced significant financial strain. Bocion moved to Montreux to live with his grandfather, a marble sculptor. After his grandfather's death in 1840, he relocated to Vevey to live with relatives. During these formative years, he received drawing instruction from Christian-Gottlieb Steinlen and François Bonnet. He traveled to Paris in 1846 to pursue formal studies at the École des Beaux-arts, attending the studios of Charles Gleyre and Louis-Aimé Grosclaude, while also establishing an acquaintance with Gustave Courbet.
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Upon returning to Lausanne following a case of typhoid fever, Bocion began exhibiting with the Société des beaux-arts, also known as Turnus. From 1849 until his death in 1890, he served as a professor of drawing at the École industrielle de Lausanne, where he additionally designed the student uniforms. His professional output included contributions to the satirical publication La Guêpe between 1851 and 1854. Between his academic responsibilities, he undertook frequent trips to Italy until 1858.
Family Life and Legacy
Bocion married Anna-Barbara Furrer in 1859. The couple had nine children, though only four survived infancy. Beyond his institutional role, he provided private art tuition to students including Eugène Grasset and Théophile Steinlen. In 1888, he became a member of the Commission fédérale des beaux-arts. He died in Lausanne in 1890. His works are held in the Cantonal Museum of Fine Arts, the Musée historique Lausanne, and the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Strasbourg. A pedestrian passage in Lausanne was named in his honor in 1924.
Fast facts
- Born: 1828, Lausanne
- Died: 1890, Lausanne
- Citizenship: Switzerland
- Primary Occupations: Painter, university teacher
- Spouse: Anna-Barbara Furrer
- Key associations: École des Beaux-arts, École industrielle de Lausanne
- Legacy: Pedestrian passage in Lausanne named after him in 1924
Questions readers ask
Where can the public view paintings by François Bocion?
His work is held in the Musée historique Lausanne, the Cantonal Museum of Fine Arts, and the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Strasbourg.
Did Bocion teach any notable artists?
Yes, he provided private instruction to both Eugène Grasset and Théophile Steinlen.
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