Lehmann, Henri (Karl Ernest Rudolf) Paintings

Henri Lehmann was a German-born French historical painter and portraitist born on April 14, 1814, in Kiel, in the Duchy of Holstein (then part of the Danish monarchy, now in Germany). He studied under his father, Leo Lehmann, a minor portrait painter, but his art education greatly expanded after he moved to Paris in 1831. There, he became a student of renowned neoclassical painter Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres, who had a significant influence on his style and artistic development. Lehmann quickly absorbed Ingres' precise draughtsmanship and linear clarity, which would become hallmarks of his own work.

Lehmann achieved success in the French art world, winning a second-class medal at the Paris Salon in 1835 for his work 'Chaste Susanna', and subsequently a first-class medal in 1840. He became a French citizen in 1842 and was awarded the Legion of Honour in 1846. His paintings often drew upon classical, historical, and religious themes, characterized by their elegance and polished technique. Apart from historical scenes, Lehmann was also known for his portraits, which included French society figures and distinguished personalities of his time.

During his career, Lehmann also dedicated himself to teaching, becoming a professor at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris in 1855. He was an influential instructor, with students including well-known artists such as Georges Seurat and Edgar Degas. Despite his German origins, Lehmann played a significant role in the 19th-century French art scene, both as an artist and as an educator.

Lehmann's work, while not as widely recognized today as that of his mentor Ingres, reflects the tastes and styles of the mid-19th century French academic art world. His commitment to neoclassicism persisted even as the art world began to shift towards realism and impressionism. Henri Lehmann passed away on March 31, 1882, in Paris, but left a legacy that includes not only his own paintings but also the impact he had on a generation of artists that followed.