Top 10 Outstanding Facts About Ary Scheffer

Ary Scheffer self-portrait. Author Joconde database. WIKIMEDIA

Top 10 Outstanding Facts About Ary Scheffer

Ary Scheffer was a Dutch-French Romantic painter who was born in 1795 in Dordrecht. He was mostly known for his work which was mainly based on literature and also painting.

His work was mainly based on the works of Dante, Goethe, and Lord Byron, as well as religious subjects. He also painted portraits of famous and influential people in his lifetime.

Ary Scheffer was also politically strongly associated with then King Louis Philippe I, this was because he was sometimes employed as a teacher of King Louis Philippe 1’s children. This opportunity gave him a life of luxury for many years until the French Revolution of 1848.

Scheffer’s father, Johan Bernard Scheffer, was a portrait painter who was born in Homberg but he later moved to the Netherlands while he was still a youth. He had two brothers, one of his brothers was a journalist and the other brother was a writer.

Here are the top 10 Outstanding facts about Ary Scheffer.

1. He became a Drawing Teacher in 1822

In  1822, Ary Scheffer became a drawing teacher to the children of king Louis Philippe I, who was the then Duke of Orléans. Out of these connections with the family, he obtained more opportunities in many commissions for portraiture and other work.

In 1830, during the riots against the rule of King Charles X which resulted in his overthrow, Scheffer and one of the influential journalists Adolphe Thiers rode from Paris to Orléans where they requested Louis Philippe I to lead the resistance.  A few days after they met Louis Philippe I, he became “King of the French”.

2.  A Commander of the Legion of Honour in 1848

The Girondins left the Revolutionary Tribunal. Author Ary Scheffer. WIKIMEDIA

In t 1848, he was elevated as commander of the Legion of Honour. During his rule as a Commander, he escorted the French royal family when they were escaping from the Tuileries.

By that time he was the captain of Garde Nationel. He also fought in the army of Cavaignac in Paris during the June Days Uprising in  1848.

3. He Became a French Citizen in 1850

In 1850, Scheffer became a French citizen. It was during his stay in French he married Sophie Marin who was the widow of General Marie Étienne François Henri Baudrand. But later, after six years Marin died, that was in 1856.

4. He Started his Exhibition in the Year 1812

Ary Schaffer started his exhibition career in the year 1812 at the Salon de Paris. It was in 1817 he started to be recognized for his work. In  1819, Ary was requested to make a portrait of the Marquis de Lafayette, this was due to Lafayette’s acquaintances.

5. Politically Active and Great Philhellene

Throughout their lives, Schaffer and his brothers were politically active and he became a prominent Philhellene. Philhellenism was an intellectual movement in the 19th century which was mainly for the love of Greek culture.

It was through this movement that led Europeans such as Lord Byron and Charles Nicolas Fabvier to advocate for Greek independence from Ottoman Empire which ruled Greek.

6. Ary Stopped Exhibiting in 1846

“Charles Dickens,” oil on canvas, by the French artist Ary Scheffer.Author National Portrait Gallery, London. WIKIMEDIA

Due to his strong ties with the then royal family, Scheffer stopped his exhibition in 1848. During the same year, when the Second Republic came into being he was made commander of the Legion of Honour. Due to this appointment and promotion, he wholly withdrew from the Salon and closed up his studio to serve the army.

7. He Painted 500 Portraits in Total

Ary Scheffer – Portrait of Cornelia Marjolin Scheffer. Author Uknown. Wikimedia

Scheffer was referred to as an accomplished portrait painter. This was because of his great work of finishing 500 portraits in total.

The main subjects in his painting career included composers Frédéric Chopin and Franz Liszt. Also, the Marquis de la Fayette, Pierre-Jean de Béranger, Alphonse de Lamartine and Charles Dickens.

8. Suffered Heart condition and Buried in Cemetery of Montmartre

Scheffer’s death was caused by a heart condition which greatly impaired his activity in 1858. He was buried in the Cimetière de Montmartre.

The Cemetery of Montmartre is a cemetery which is located in Paris, France, and it dates back to the early 19th century. The cemetery is currently known as the Cimetière du Nord.

9. Scheffer’s Mother was a Portrait Miniaturist

Scheffer’s  mother was also a Dutch painter and portrait miniaturist. She was also referred to as “a woman of much energy and strength of character.”

Scheffer’s mother was also  distinguished by her talents, her wit, and many good qualities, which rendered her one of the remarkable women of her time. His mother is always celebrated as the artist’s mother of all time.

10. Scheffer’s Best Work was

Francesca da Rimini. Author Rijksmuseum. WIKIMEDIA

This was Ary Scheffer’s best composition which was painted in at least six similar versions. He painted between the years 1822 and 1855.

These paintings were all painted in oil on canvas. The paintings also showed scenes from Dante’s Inferno.

Ary Scheffer was a great painter whose work motivated many young generations and newcomers to the career. His hard work inspires a lot of painters in the country and abroad.

He was also referred to as one of the prolific painters of portraits of Dutch famous and influential people during his lifetime. Apart from his professional career, Ary dedicated his life not only to his painting career but also in serve his people in various categories such as a drawing teacher and also in the army as a commander, his dedication to everything he was doing was and is still highly appreciated across the country. This encourages people not to give up no matter the challenges.