Félix Boisselier, ' the elder,' a French historical painter

History painting

History painting is a genre in painting defined by subject matter rather than an artistic style, depicting a moment in a narrative story, rather than a static subject such as a portrait...

, was born at Damphal

Val-de-Meuse

Val-de-Meuse is a commune in the Haute-Marne department in north-eastern France.Val-de-Meuse was created in 1972 by the merger of the former communes of Avrecourt, Épinant, Lécourt, Maulain, Montigny-le-Roi , Provenchères-sur-Meuse, Ravennefontaines, Récourt et Saulxures and in 1974 Lénizeul.-See...

 (Haute-Marne

Haute-Marne

Haute-Marne is a department in the northeast of France named after the Marne River.-History:Haute-Marne is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on March 4, 1790...

) in 1776, and in early life was employed as draughtsman in a manufactory of decorative papers. At the time of the Revolution

French Revolution

The French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...

 he was thrown into prison, and after regaining his liberty entered the studio of Regnault

Jean-Baptiste Regnault

Jean-Baptiste Regnault was a French painter.Regnault was born in Paris, and began life at sea in a merchant vessel. At the age of fifteen his talent attracted attention, and he was sent to Italy by M. de Monval under the care of Bardin...

. In 1805, and again in 1806, he obtained the grand prize in painting

Prix de Rome

The Prix de Rome was a scholarship for arts students, principally of painting, sculpture, and architecture. It was created, initially for painters and sculptors, in 1663 in France during the reign of Louis XIV. It was an annual bursary for promising artists having proved their talents by...

, and towards the end of the latter year went to Rome, where he died in 1811. His 'Death of Adonis,' exhibited in 1812, is now in the Louvre

Louvre

The Musée du Louvre – in English, the Louvre Museum or simply the Louvre – is one of the world's largest museums, the most visited art museum in the world and a historic monument. A central landmark of Paris, it is located on the Right Bank of the Seine in the 1st arrondissement...

.