An exhibition on Gros and Girodet in Montargis

26/2/24 - Exhibition - Montargis, Musée Girodet - We only saw this exhibition last Saturday. It went almost unnoticed due to a lack of publicity, which is a real shame because the subject is fascinating even if the way it is handled can seem a little confused. There is one main reason for this: the exhibition rooms are a little too small, making it difficult to get your bearings. It is a matter of some regret that the catalogue has not yet been published (so we have not read it): no doubt it will set the record straight. The exhibition ends on 16 March, which is very soon, but we can only encourage visitors interested in this period and these artists to go and see it. A visit to Montargis, in addition to the museum’s permanent collections, which are unfortunately still monopolised by the restoration work to repair the damage caused by the 2016 flood, can usefully be supplemented by a visit to the church of La Madeleine, where you can see exceptional stained glass windows by Lobin de Tours as well as two sculptures by Henri de Triqueti (see the works here).

1. Anne-Louis Girodet-Trioson (1767-1824)
The Death of Tatius, 1788
Oil on canvas - 113.5 x 147 cm
Angers, Musée des Beaux-Arts
Photo: Didier Rykner

See the image in its page

2. Antoine-Jean Gros (1771-1835)
Eliezar Prefers Death to the Crime of Violating the Law by Eating Forbidden Meat, 1792
Oil on canvas - 113 x 147 cm
Saint-Lô, Musée des Beaux-Arts
Photo: Didier Rykner

See the image in its page

Girodet and Gros were both pupils of David, and in a different way two of the first French Romantic painters. Although born four years apart, in 1767 and 1771 respectively, they had a rich shared history, and both maintained their friendship despite the competition that could set them against each other, particularly for the commissions of the Empire.
The journey begins with two paintings by each of the painters in their attempts to win the Prix de Rome, in 1788 for Girodet…