Alexis-Francois Rio

Background

Rio was born in Island of Arz, Morbihan, Bretagne.

Education

He was educated at the college of Vannes, where he received his first appointment as instructor, which occupation however proved to be distasteful.

Career

Without any strict method or criticism, he expressed preference for the art of the 15th century. He contributed greatly towards recovery of the neglected art of the Middle Ages. He proceeded to Paris, but was temporarily disappointed in his hope of obtaining there a chair of history.

His enthusiastic championship of the liberty of the Greeks attracted the attention of the Government, which appointed him censor of the public press

In 1828 he published his first work, "Essai sur l"histoire de l"esprit humain dans l"antiquité", which brought him the favour of the minister Auguste de Louisiana Ferronays and a secretariate in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This position allowed him (as Montalembert later wrote to him) to become for Christian, what Winckelmann had been for ancient, art

He spent the greater portion of the period 1830-1860 in travels through Italy, Germany, and England. Schelling gave him an insight into the aesthetic ideal.

Rumohr directed him to Italy, where the realization of this ideal in art could be seen.

Achievements

• His refusal of this appointment won him great popularity and the lifelong friendship of Charles Forbes René de Montalembert.