MEISSONIER, inA'sA'nyA', JEAN Loris ER NEST 1 1 5-9 1 . A French military and genre painter, born Lyons. February 21, 1815. Iii 18:10 ho WI'llt to Paris and worked for a short time in the studio of Crrniet, hut he received his most valuable training in art from his study of the old master: in the Louvre, especially those of the Dutch School. At first be illnstrated hooks and made etchings as a means of liveli hood. Ills first. painting. "The Visitors." was exhibited at the Salon in 1836. In 1813 and 1418 he received first-class medal: from the qalon. and in the expositions of 1855. 1867, and 1878 the grand medal of honor. In 1848 he was cap tain of artillery in the National Guard. He was with. Napoleon at Solfe•ino in 1859, and during the siege of Paris in 1870 he was lieuten ant-colonel of infantry in the National Guard. Ile was made chevalier of the Legion of Honor in 1846 and grand officer in 1878; a member of the Institute of France in 1861, and president in IS76 and 1891. He' died. in Paris, January 31, 1891.
His subjects are historical, military, and scenes from everyday life. Many of his pictures are on small canvases and studies of one or two figures. His characters are almost entirely men; in very few of his pictures do women or children appear. lle is the chief of a school of genre painters. among the most prominent of whom are his son. Jean Charles (1848—), and Detaille (q.v.). Every detail in his pictures is as faith fully and carefully studied and portrayed as if it. were of sole importance. His coloring is fresh
and realistic, and his power over the effects of light and shade masterly. He excels in his drawing of the horse, in his portrayal of action, and in his power to depict the subtlest shades of expression on the faces of his characters. Of his military pictures, one of the most famous is "Friedland, 1807" (1875), a large painting in the Metropolitan New• York. Other. famous military pictures are': "Cavalry Charge" (1867) ; "Napoleon Ill. at Solferino" (1864), in the Luxembourg; "The Retreat from Moscow ;" "Napoleon Overlooking a Battle:" "Napoleon and llis Staff in 1814" (1864). The Catherine Loril lard Wolfe collection, Metropolitan Museum, New York, contains three pictures by Meissotier, and the Vanderbilt collection in New York has seven. In the Luxembourg Museum are also the "Stand ard Bearer" (1862) ; "Musketeer" (1862) ; and a portrait of Alexander Dumas the younger. Among his best-known genre pictures are: "La Rise" (1855) ; "Ball Players at Antibes ;" "Amateurs of Painting" (1843) ; "The Laugher:" "The Halt" 11869) : "The Chess Players" ( 1S36) ; "Throw ing Dice" (1836) ; "Mass Reading" (1340) ; "The Voyage" and "The Farrier" (1861). For his biography, consult: Claretie (Paris, 18S-1) ; Lar ronmet (ib., 1893 ; Grilard (ib., 1897) ; and For ment in. ( ib., 1901).