Alexandre Cabanel Paintings Oil Painting Reproductions

The Academic Vision of Alexandre Cabanel

Alexandre Cabanel was a French painter who lived from September 28, 1823, to January 23, 1889. ¹ He painted historical, classical, and religious subjects in the academic style. ¹ This style of painting is known for its smooth brushwork, grand themes, and perfect human figures. If you are looking to bring a sense of drama and classical beauty to your home, his work is a wonderful place to start.

Cabanel began his artistic training at the Montpellier School of Fine Arts under Charles Matet. ¹ He moved to Paris in 1839 after receiving a scholarship. ¹ He entered the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris in 1840 and studied under François-Édouard Picot. ¹ He won the Prix de Rome scholarship in 1845 when he was 22 years old. ¹ He lived as a resident at the Villa Medici until the year 1850. ¹ Over his career, Cabanel shifted toward romantic themes, such as his 1848 painting Albaydé. ¹ He was awarded the insignia of knight of the Legion of Honor in 1855. ¹

Masterpieces of the Paris Salon

Cabanel gained wider recognition with his painting The Birth of Venus, which was shown at the Salon of 1863 and bought by Napoleon III. ¹ The Birth of Venus entered the Luxembourg Museum in 1881 and is now kept at the Musée d'Orsay in Paris. ¹ Cabanel was elected as a member of the Academy of Fine Arts in 1863. ¹ He became a professor at the École des Beaux-Arts in 1864 and taught there for the rest of his life. ¹ He served as a member of the Salon jury seventeen times between 1868 and 1888. ¹ His refusal to let Édouard Manet and other artists exhibit at the Salon of 1863 led to the creation of the Salon des Refusés. ¹ Cabanel won the Great Medal of Honour at the Salons of 1865, 1867, and 1878. ¹ He was awarded the Knight's Cross of the First Class of the Order of Merit of Saint Michael of Bavaria in 1867 for his painting Paradise Lost. ¹

Choosing a Cabanel Canvas for Your Wall

When selecting a reproduction for your home, consider the mood of the room. His 1847 painting Fallen Angel is located at the Musée Fabre in Montpellier. ¹ This piece captures intense emotion and makes a powerful statement in a study or living room. For a softer, more narrative feel, his 1857 painting Algae and Boniface is held at The Cleveland Museum of Art in Ohio. ¹ If you prefer deep theatrical drama, his 1880 painting Phedre is housed at the Musée Fabre in Montpellier. ¹ His 1887 painting Cleopatra Testing Poisons on Condemned Prisoners is kept at the Royal Museum of Fine Arts in Antwerp. ¹

To explore similar styles, you can view our collection of academic art. You might also enjoy the classical balance of Bouguereau's classical works or the detailed historical narratives of Jean-Leon Gerome.

Every painting in our Alexandre Cabanel collection is hand-painted in oil on canvas by a studio artist, never printed. Prices in this collection run from $249.95, by size. Seven sizes are listed for each work; any size, including the original's proportion, can be ordered through our special canvas request page.

Sources

1. en.wikipedia.org