Ernest Meissonier

Ernest Meissonier (1815-1891) was a French painter known for his meticulously detailed historical and genre scenes. He began his career as a student of the Neoclassical painter J.L. Gérôme, but later became associated with the Academic painting style, which emphasized highly finished, polished works. Meissonier was particularly interested in the French military history of the 17th and 18th centuries, and many of his paintings depict scenes from these periods with great accuracy and detail. He was widely acclaimed during his lifetime and received numerous awards and honors, including the Légion d'honneur. However, his popularity declined in the years after his death as the rise of Impressionism and Modernism led to a re-evaluation of Academic painting. Nevertheless, Meissonier's works continue to be admired for their technical virtuosity and historical accuracy.