Charles-Amable Lenoir

Biography of Charles-Amable Lenoir ( 1860-1926 )

Charles-Amable Lenoir was born in 1860 in Châtelaillon, in the south-west of France, in a lawer class family. Despite the financial difficulties of his family, Lenoir became interested in art very early and, in 1883, studied with the painters William Bouguereau and Tony Robert-Fleury at the School of Fine Arts in Paris.

Lenoir began at the Salon in 1887. He exhibited mainly portraits, but later concentrated on genre painting, religious and mythological subjects.

In 1889, he won the second second prize in Rome for "Jesus heals the paralytic" and the first second grand prize in 1890 with "The Denial of St. Peter". In 1892, he won a third class medal for the "Le Grenier" at the Paris Salon and a 2nd class medal in 1896 for "The Death of Sappho". In 1900, he won a bronze medal for "Le Calme", which depicted a portrait of his wife. In addition, he exhibited in Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro in Brazil from 1918 to 1926.

Lenoir devoted himself to academic painting in the manner of his master William Bouguereau. His paintings reflected the nineteenth-century feminine beauty. His figures were remarkable for the balance of the poses, the sobriety of the costumes and the harmony of the colors. Her delicate female faces revealed all the sweetness and charm of the models.

In this painting "The Death of Sappho", awarded a Second Class Medal at the Salon of 1896, Lenoir managed to capture all the mystery and sensuality of the Greek poetess born in the island of Lesbos, her body sinking with grace in the waters, her hand letting go her lyre.

Lenoir received the Legion of honor on July 1903.