GEROME, JEAN-LEON, one of the most eminent of living French painters, was b. in 1824 at Vesoul, where he received his early education. His fathgr was ageldsmith. In his seventeenth year, he went to Paris. and entered the studio of Paul Delaroche, at the same time attending the school of the fine arts. He continued till 1844 the pupil of Dela roche, whom, in that year, he accompanied on a tour in Italy. In 1847, one of his pic tures was exhibited at the Louvre. In 1851, he was commissioned to furnish a design for a vase which was to be manufactured at Sevres in commemoration of the London exhibition of that year. In 1853, he traveled in Turkey and upon the eastern waters of the Danube. He has since extended his knowledge of eastern scenes by a journey in Egypt and the adjacent countries in 1856. In 1855, he received the cross of the legion of honor; and in 1863, he was appointed professor painting in the school of the fine arts, a position which he continues to hold. Many of his pictures have been exhibited in London, and there are few contemporary French painters whose works are so well known to the British public, or so high in favor with English critics. Gerome was decorated with the Prussian order of the red eagle in 1869, and made commander of the legion of honor. In 1855, his first great picture, "Le Siècle d'August et In Naissance de Jesus Christ," was exhibited; it was much canvassed by the critics, on the whole was received with favor, and ultimately was purchased by the state. This painting showed an elevated taste and a noble ambition; the execution, too, was in many respects excel lent, and the work greatly. raised author's reputation. In 1859, he eN ibited his noble
picture of Roman gladiators in the ampitheater, with the motto: " Cwsar, ave, Casar Imperator, morituri to saliatant," which raised to the highest pitch his reputation as a colorist and painter of the human figure, while making a profound impression by the success with which the human interest of the scene was rendered. With " Pnryne before her Judges," exhibited in 1861, he won fresh honors as a colorist and draughts man. In the same yed, he exhibited, among other pictures, his " Socrates searching for Alcibiades at the House of Aspasia;" " Deux Augnres non jamais pu se regarder san rire;" and a portrait of Rachel. "Louis XIV. and Moliere," " The Prisoner,P and the "Death of Cwsar" ate among the best known of his subsequent works—the last, a finely conceived and nobly painted picture, which, for its architecture, its color, and the subserviency of details very strikingly rendered to a definite human interest, demands the highest admiration. The " Death of Csar," the ," the " tors," and "Louis XIV.. and Moliere," are among the pictures of Gerome which have been exhibited in London. Gerome has painted admirably several eastern subjects. His mural picture, " The Plague at Marseille," his "Death of St. Jerome," the "Lioness meeting a Jaguar," " Rex and " L'Eminence Grise" (1874), have received high encomiums. • Though not to be ranked among painters of the first class, as ist and figure-painter he probably has no superior among living artists.