Joseph-Benoît Suvée

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Joseph-Benoît Suvée

Born 3 January 1743
Bruges
Died 9 February 1807
Rome
Nationality Belgian
Field Painting
Training Pupil of Matthias de Visch and Jean-Jacques Bachelier
Movement Neo-classicism
Works Cornelia, Mother of the Gracchi (1795)
Influenced by Jacques-Louis David
Awards Prix de Rome (1771)

Joseph-Benoît Suvée (Bruges, 3 January 1743 - Rome, 9 February 1807) was a Belgian painter strongly influenced by French neo-classicism. He emulated and competed with Jacques-Louis David, earning his enduring hatred.

[edit] Life

Cornelia, mother of the Gracchi by Joseph-Benoît Suvée, 1795, Louvre
Cornelia, mother of the Gracchi by Joseph-Benoît Suvée, 1795, Louvre

Initially a pupil of Matthias de Visch, he came to France aged 19 and became a pupil of Jean-Jacques Bachelier. In 1771, he won the Prix de Rome. In Rome from 1772 to 1778, he prolonged the usual duration allowed to pensionaries of the French Academy in Rome. he was named an academician on his return to Paris and he opened an art school for young women at the Louvre.

Named the French Academy in Rome's director in 1792, replacing François-Guillaume Ménageot, he was imprisoned for a while in the Prison Saint-Lazare and only able to take up the post in 1801. After a brilliant career, and a six years' stay in Rome as the Academy's Director, he died there suddenly.

[edit] Works

  • Achilles depositing the body of Hector at the feet of the body of Patroclus, 1769, Louvre
  • Cornelia, mother of the Gracchi, 1795, Louvre

[edit] External links

Cultural offices
Preceded by
François-Guillaume Ménageot
Director of the
French Academy in Rome

1792–1807
Succeeded by
Pierre-Adrien Pâris
Languages