DECAMPS, de-UN', A LEXANDRF - GAtiniEL (1803-60). A French painter, born in Paris, _March 3, 1S03. He was a pupil of Abel de Pujol, but was in no way restricted by the traditions of the conventional and classic in art. llis work that appeared in the Salon of 1827—painted in his twenty-fourth year—was not at first pleasing to his fellow-artists, but its originality and style attracted and pleased the public. Of early instruc tion he had received little, regarding lessons 'mo notonous.' He preferred to grope his way alone, but in later years acknowledged himself handi capped for lack of early training. Once, visiting the studio of Millet, he exclaimed, "Ah! you are a lucky fellow; you can do all you wish to do." "The sting of his artistic conscience" was always with him, making him discontented and restless even over his hest work. Decamps's genius final ly expressed itself in landscape and genre, and in Oriental subjects which introduced both. He was of the naturalistic school, seeking every-day topics in the streets. on the quays, and in the Yields. He reveled in color in effects of atmosphere and light, and he managed these qualities in his pictures in a way that was as fascinating as nature itself. Before he visited the East, in 1S27, he had painted suggestions of the Orient, and he early laid the foundation of that French school of Oricntalism that was later to include Gerome. Ziem, Constant, and Frere. His first paintings of genre subjects were so popular that in time he suffered from their suc cesses, as it was difficult for him to depart from that style of work. though he aspired to the
historical in his nine sketches of the history of Samson. As a landscape painter he sympathized with the English Constable, and really took a high position in his interpretation of nature. Light and atmosphere dominated his works. It was the modern note that was handed on to the school of Impressionists. the Monets and Manets. Decamps liked to indulge his brush in satirical work, and "The Monkey Experts" and his tra vesties of Charles X. display his skill in that direction. He touched the high-water mark of his popularity in I S30, in his exhibits at the Salon. where his "Cafr• in Asia." "Street of a Roman Village," "Children Playing Year a Foun tain." and other examples of hi; figuresubjects and landscapes made him chevalier of the Legion of Honor. But the authority of the classic school at that time made Decamps uncertain of himself and discouraged with his profession. In this mood he burned many of his works and retired to the country. ignoring art for many years. He lost his life August 22. 1860, as the result of an accident while riding to the hunt.
Consult: Stranahan, .Modern French Painters (New York, IS881 ; Chaumelin, Decamps, sa vie ct son (Marseilles. 1861) ; Im-Thurn, ticheffer et Decamps (Nimes, 1876) : CRIment, in Les artistes celil»-es (Paris, 1886) ; C'hesneau, meet moderne en peinture: Decamps (Paris. 1861) ; Moreau. Decamps et son ccurre (Paris, 1869).