GIRODET-TRIOSON, zhCro'dfs! tre-6'zON', ANNE Louis (1767-1824). A French historical painter. His real name was Girodet de Roussy, and he was born at Montargis. He was adopted and educated by M. Trioson, the Court physician, whose name he assumed in later years. He was a pupil of David, and in 1789 he took the Prix de Rome. In pursuing his studies at Rome he cultivated a sentiment in his work which had not developed in the studio of David, where correct and classical drawing was considered paramount. His "Sleep of Endymion," now in the Louvre, was painted at this time; it is said the figure was copied from a bas-relief. In 1792 Girodet painted "Hippocrates Refusing Presents Sent from the King of Persia," a gift to Dr. Trio son, who bequeathed it to the Medical School of Paris. In 1802, at the request of Napoleon, he executed "Ossian and His Warriors Receiving the Shades of French Warriors," and in 1806 he ex hibited his "Scene of the Deluge," which received a prize over David's famous "Sabines," but it has been severely criticised as poor in composition.
"Pygmalion and Galatea," his last and one of the best works, was exhibited in 1819. His large historical pictures, the "Surrender of Vienna to Napoleon" (1808), and the "Insur rection at Cairo" (1810), both at Versailles, are less pleasing, and his portraits are cold and dry. In the "Burial of Attila" Girodet was more suc cessful. His efforts to combine the teachings of the classic with his own romantic spirit some times produced grotesque results, but Girodet helped to make possible the later school of the Romanticists. He was very wealthy; he was made member of the Institute in 1815, and che valier of the Legion of Honor in 1816. He died in Paris, and, by order of Louis XVIII., was deco rated with the cross of officer of the Legion of Honor when in his coffin. Consult his Euvres posthunies (Paris, 1830).