Jean-Victor Bertin
Encyclopedia
Jean-Victor Bertin was a French painter of historical landscapes, inspired by Italy and known for the minute detail of his classical style.
. He entered the Académie royale de peinture et de sculpture in 1785, as a pupil of Gabriel-François Doyen. Between 1785 and 1793 he participated in several 'concours d'émulation' competitions and from 1793 until his death regularly exhibited at the Paris Salon
. He won a 'prix d'encouragement' in 1799 and his work was recognised in 1808 by a gold medal, first class, with a value of 250 francs. He was granted the Légion d'honneur
on 21 August 1822 and his old age was marked by financial problems, and he left his widow in deep material distress.
He was himself the master of Michallon
, Coignet
, Boisselier
, Corot
, Enfantin, and others. Several of his works were commissioned for the palais du Trianon
and the palais de Fontainebleau
between 1811 and 1817. Prestigious amateurs such as the duc de Berry and the banker Jacques Laffitte
appreciated Bertin's talents and from 1833 onwards the French state, particularly the Interior Ministry, regularly bought his works to enrich museums in the provinces.
Many of his works will be found in the galleries at Versailles
, and in other public collections. In the Louvre
there is a 'View of the Island of Phoenos with the Temple of Minerva.'
Life
The son of a master wig-maker, he became a pupil of the celebrated ValenciennesPierre-Henri de Valenciennes
Pierre-Henri de Valenciennes was a French painter.Valenciennes worked in Rome from 1778 to 1782, where he made a number of landscape studies directly from nature, sometimes painting the same set of trees or house at different times of day...
. He entered the Académie royale de peinture et de sculpture in 1785, as a pupil of Gabriel-François Doyen. Between 1785 and 1793 he participated in several 'concours d'émulation' competitions and from 1793 until his death regularly exhibited at the Paris Salon
Paris Salon
The Salon , or rarely Paris Salon , beginning in 1725 was the official art exhibition of the Académie des Beaux-Arts in Paris, France. Between 1748–1890 it was the greatest annual or biannual art event in the Western world...
. He won a 'prix d'encouragement' in 1799 and his work was recognised in 1808 by a gold medal, first class, with a value of 250 francs. He was granted the Légion d'honneur
Légion d'honneur
The Legion of Honour, or in full the National Order of the Legion of Honour is a French order established by Napoleon Bonaparte, First Consul of the Consulat which succeeded to the First Republic, on 19 May 1802...
on 21 August 1822 and his old age was marked by financial problems, and he left his widow in deep material distress.
He was himself the master of Michallon
Achille Etna Michallon
Achille Etna Michallon was a French painter.Michallon was the son of the sculptor Claude Michallon. He studied under Jacques-Louis David and Pierre-Henri de Valenciennes. In 1817, Michallon won the inaugural Prix de Rome for landscape painting. He travelled to Italy in 1818 and remained there for...
, Coignet
Léon Cogniet
Léon Cogniet was a French historical and portrait painter.- Biography :Cogniet was born in Paris. In 1812, he entered the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris, where he studied under Pierre-Narcisse Guérin at the same time as Delacroix and Géricault. In 1817 he won the Prix de Rome and was a resident at...
, Boisselier
Antoine-Félix Boisselier
Antoine-Félix Boisselier , known as Boisselier le Jeune to distinguish him from his brother Félix Boisselier, was a French painter. A native of Paris, he was of the same generation as Camille Corot and Achille Etna Michallon...
, Corot
Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot
Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot was a French landscape painter and printmaker in etching. Corot was the leading painter of the Barbizon school of France in the mid-nineteenth century...
, Enfantin, and others. Several of his works were commissioned for the palais du Trianon
Grand Trianon
The Grand Trianon was built in the northwestern part of the Domain of Versailles at the request of Louis XIV, as a retreat for the King and his maîtresse en titre of the time, the marquise de Montespan, and as a place where the King and invited guests could take light meals away from the strict...
and the palais de Fontainebleau
Château de Fontainebleau
The Palace of Fontainebleau, located 55 kilometres from the centre of Paris, is one of the largest French royal châteaux. The palace as it is today is the work of many French monarchs, building on an early 16th century structure of Francis I. The building is arranged around a series of courtyards...
between 1811 and 1817. Prestigious amateurs such as the duc de Berry and the banker Jacques Laffitte
Jacques Laffitte
Jacques Laffitte was a French banker and politician.-Biography:Laffitte was born at Bayonne, one of the ten children of a carpenter....
appreciated Bertin's talents and from 1833 onwards the French state, particularly the Interior Ministry, regularly bought his works to enrich museums in the provinces.
Selected Works
Amongst his principal works may be cited:- The Festival of Pan.
- The Offering to Venus.
- Cicero's Return from Exile.
- The Flight of Angelica.
- The Festival of Bacchus.
- Arrival of Napoleon at Ettlingen.
Many of his works will be found in the galleries at Versailles
Palace of Versailles
The Palace of Versailles , or simply Versailles, is a royal château in Versailles in the Île-de-France region of France. In French it is the Château de Versailles....
, and in other public collections. 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...
there is a 'View of the Island of Phoenos with the Temple of Minerva.'