FLANDRIN, Jean Hippolyte, zhoil let flan-dean, French historical and portrait painter: b. Lyons, 23 May 1809; d. Rome, Italy, 21 March 1864. He worked under Ingres, and from him he imbibed that love of severe and definite form and that classical feeling which he used for his own ends in his religious paint ing. In 1832 he won the Prix de Rome by his 'Recognition of Theseus' ; and before his five years' residence in Italy was completed he had produced his 'Saint Clair Healing the Blind,' now in the cathedral of Nantes. Henceforward he was mainly occupied with decorative monu mental work, though he also executed many admirable portraits. In 1842 he began his great frescoes of 'Christ Entering Jerusalem,' and 'Christ Going up to Calvary,' in the sanctuary of the Church of Saint Germain-des-Pres, Paris, deeply impressive works, which already entitled their painter to rank as the greatest religious painter of the century. The choir of the same church he adorned (1846-48) with figures of the Saints and the Virtues. He also decorated
the church of Saint Paul at Nimes (1847-49), the church of Saint Martin d'Ainay at Lyons (1855), and painted the magnificent frieze that adorns the church of Saint Vincent de Paul, in Paris, in which is figured a procession of saints and martyrs. In 1855 he began his last great work in the nave of Saint Germain-des-Pres, consisting of subjects from the Old and New Testaments, of which some were left uncompleted at his death, at Rome, 21 March 1864. His artistic conceptions were majestic, the embodiment of a spirituality that was somewhat austere and cold. But his place as the greatest religious decorator of the 19th century is assured. His 'Lewes et Pensies,' with a memoir and a catalogue of his works, were issued 1865. Consult 'Lives,' by Poncet (1864) ; (1876) and Flandrin (1902).