Background
Henri Gervex was born on December 10, 1852 in Paris, France. He was a son of Joséphine Peltier and Félix Nicolas Gervex.
14 Rue Bonaparte, 75006 Paris, France
From 1871 to 1876, Henri studied at the École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts.
23 Quai de Conti, 75270 Paris, France
In 1913, Henri became a member of the Institut de France.
Brussels, Belgium
In 1925, he was made an associate member of the Royal Academy of Science, Letters and Fine Arts of Belgium.
Henri Gervex was born on December 10, 1852 in Paris, France. He was a son of Joséphine Peltier and Félix Nicolas Gervex.
In 1867, Henri started to attend the studio of the painter Pierre-Nicolas Brisset. Some time later, in 1871, he was admitted to the École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts in Paris, where he was a student of Alexandre Cabanel. Gervex stayed at the École for the next five years. There, his fellow students included Jean-Louis Forain and Fernand Cormon.
Also, Gervex studied art under the guidance of Eugène Fromentin.
In 1873, Henri Gervex exhibited his work "A sleeping bather" at the Salon for the first time. The next year, he received the second class medal for his work "Satyr Sporting with a Bacchante". Some time later, in 1876, Gervex again received a medal for a powerful realistic picture, representing the surgeons, holding an autopsy on the body of a patient in the Hotel Dieu hospital.
In 1878, his masterpiece "Rolla" was rejected by the jury of the Salon in Paris for immorality, since it depicted a scene from a poem by Alfred de Musset of a naked prostitute after engaging in sexual relations with her customer. Finally, in the last years of his life, the painter was pleased to see his oil painting "Rolla" taken to the Luxembourg Museum.
In the early 1880's, the painter traveled to Spain. During that time, he became a member of "Cercle des mirlitons", headed by Ernest Meissonier. In 1882, Henri made his first trip to England together with Auguste Rodin. In 1883 and 1884, he paid another two visits to England.
In 1883, he also decorated the town hall in the 19th arrondissement of Paris and of the Opéra Comique. In 1889 and 1900, Gervex acted as a member of the jury at the World Fair, where he argued in favour of giving the Impressionists their recognition.
During his lifetime, he visited many countries, including Italy, Turkey and Russia, where he received many titles and medals.
Young Red Head Grooming Herself
La Toilette
Young Woman Wearing a Hat
Armenonville Le Soir Du Grand Prix
Rolla
Tossed by a Wave
Parisian Woman at Her Toilet
Return from the Ball
Portrait of Marie Clotilde De Faret, Comtesse De Fournes
The Beach at Trouville
Cinq Heures Chez Paquin 1906
After the Dance
Café Scene in Paris
Unexpected Visit
Young Woman Washing
The Coronation of Nicolas II
Henri Gervex was a member of "Cercle des mirlitons".