Charles Thévenin

1764-1838 French

Neoclassical painter of revolutionary heroism

Charles Thévenin was a neoclassical French painter, known for heroic scenes from the time of the French Revolution and First French Empire . Born in Paris , the son of a court architect, Charles studied painting at the Académie royale de peinture et de sculpture under François-André Vincent . Winning second prize in the prix de Rome for Joseph recognized by his brothers in 1789, he won first prize in 1791 for Regulus returns to Carthage . Thus he received his first commissions and in 1790 produced the first version of The Taking of the Bastille , which produced a number of commentaries. He received a second prize at the Concours of Year II for The 12 July 1789 . After giving up history painting for decorative subjects for a time, in 1798 he produced Augereau on the bridge at Arcole , the first in a series of paintings glorifying the Empire. He left for Italy , staying at the French Academy in Rome , meeting Dominique Ingres and becoming the Academy's director from 1816 to 1823. On his return to Paris, he was elected a member of the Académie des Beaux-Arts in 1825, then named Conservateur of the Cabinet des estampes in the Bibliothèque nationale .