Compiled from known dates of paintings in the theArtwerx Lefebvre gallery pages, and details The Franco Prussian War (1870-1871).
In the 1870’s Lefebvre became a teacher at the Academie Julien in Paris, a private Art School established by Rodolphe Julian in 1868. It became a major alternative training centre to the official Ecole des Beaux-Arts.
The Paris Commune Uprising. Lefebvre and his family were among many Parisians who suffered during this period [10].
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researched from the online biographies and sources listed in the links at the bottom of this page.
Year
Dated Works
Events and information
1836
Born March 14th in Tournan, France.
Parents were 29 yo Martin Lefebvre, a baker, and 28 yo Caroline Adélaïde Joséphine (Duval) [1].
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The Lefebvre family moved to Amiens when Jules-Joseph was still young.
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1852
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With the encouragement of his father, and due to his evident artistic talent, the City of Amiens granted the young Lefebvre a 5 year pension of 1,000 francs per year to study art.
He arrived in Paris with a letter of recommendation from Monsignor Salinis (Bishop of Amiens) to Paulin Guerin (drawing professor at the Juilly school), who introduced him to Léon Cogniet who subsequently admitted him into his studio as a student [9].
Age 16
1853
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Attending the École des Beaux Arts
1854
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1855
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Exhibited his first painting at the Paris Salon, spent the next few years pursuing the Prix de Rome.
Age 19
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1859
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2nd place Prix de Rome
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1861
"The Death of Priam",
"Diva Vittoria Colonna"
"The Death of Priam" won 1st place at the Prix de Rome, a scolarship of 5 years study at the French Academy in Rome, with residency at the Villa Medicis.
Age 25.
He was friends with a close knit group of other young French artists studying in Rome, who called themselves the “CALDARROSTI”. Members of this group included: Edmond Lebel, Léon Bonnat, Carolus-Duran, Tony Robert-Fleury, James Bertrand, Jean-Jacques Henner, Jean-Paul Laurens, Paul Emile Sautai, Hector Leroux, Albert Giraud and also Léon Cogniet (their teacher) [5].
During his stay in Rome he studied the great Italian masters and would find his individual artistic niche. He was reportedly fascinated by the Mannerist painters, especially Andrea del Sarto.
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1863
"Boy Painting a Tragic Mask"
Painted his first nude, a Bather.
1864
"Roman Charity"
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1865
"Portrait d'Antonio, modèle italien"
"Young painter of Greek masks"
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1866
"Cornelia, Mother of the Gracchi"
"Cornelia, Mother of the Gracchi" was ill received by experts and aroused overwhelming criticism.
That same year his parents and one of his sisters died, and he went into a severe depression.
Age 30
1867
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Returned to Paris with a new outlook, turning more from history painting to portraits and nudes.
1868
"Reclining Nude"
"Reclining Nude" received much praise in the 1868 Salon exhibition.
1869
"Le Reveil de Diane",
"Portrait of Alexandre Dumas"
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1870
"La Vérité" (Truth),
"Portrait du Prince Impérial".
"Truth" brought Lefebvre great success, and shortly after this he was made an officer in the Legion of Honor. The model was Sophie Criozette, a famous 19th century French actress.
1871
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Age 35
1872
"La Cigale"
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1873
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1874
"Odalisque",
"Slave Carrying Fruit",
"Portrait of Eugene Louis Napoleon Bonaparte"
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1875
"Chloe"
The model for "Chloe" was said to be a 19 yo Parisian woman named Marie. Lefebvre's contemporary and student George Moore told the story that Marie committed suicide aged 21, after thowing a party for her friends then drinking poison made from boiled match heads. He alluded that the reason for her suicide was love.
1876
"Mary Magdalene in the Grotto"
Age 40
1877
"Lia"
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1878
"Graziella"
Won a first class medal at the Exposition Universelle this year.
1879
"Diana",
"Diana Surprised"
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1880
"Portrait of Julia Foster Ward"
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1881
"Couple (Idylle)"
"Undine"
Age 45
1882
"Pandora(II)",
"Japonaise",
"Yvonne" (II)
"Yvonne" (II) is a portrait of Lefebvre's daughter.
1883
"Psyche"
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1884
"The Feathered Fan",
"Portrait of Edna Barger"
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1885
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1886
"Mignon" (IV),
"Portrait de Mme T***"
Age 50.
Notable American impressionist Childe Hassam enrolled to study under Gustave Boulanger and Jules-Joseph Lefebvre in the Académie Julian studio at 48 rue de faubourg Saint-Denis, 10th Arrondissement, Paris [7].
1887
"Portrait de Gustave Chaix d'Est-Ange"
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1888
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1889
"Portrait of M. Fitzgerald"
Lefebvre won the Grand Prize at the Paris Exposition Universelle.
1890
"Lady Godiva",
"Ophelia"
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1891
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Made a member of the Academie des Beaux Arts, age 55.
1892
"A Daughter of Eve"
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1896
"Portrait of a Lady"(II)
Age 60
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1898
"Amor beim Schärfen seiner Pfeile" (Love sharpening its arrows)
Promoted to Commander in the Legion of Honor.
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1901
"Alexander Agassiz",
"Yvonne",
"Portrait de femme dans un paysage"
Age 65
"Yvonne" is a portrait of Lefebvre's daughter.
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1906
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Age 70
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1911
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Lefebvre died on February 24th 1911, in Paris, age 75.
His son Maurice Lefebvre (a sculptor) died in June 1911 [9].
[1].Les célébrités de Tournan en brie - Jules Lefebvre (in French)
[2].Art Renewal Centre - Lefebvre Biography
[3].Lawrence J. Cantor & Co. - Lefebvre Biography
[4].Schiller and Bodo - painting listing "Springtime"
[5]."Edmond Lebel" portrait by Carolus-Duranl (CALDARROSTI info)
[6].Young & Jacksons Hotel - Chloe page
[7].Metropolitan Museum of Art - Childe Hassam Chronology
[8].Wikipedia - Lefebvre entry
[9]."Master Paintings of the World" D. Vicars, 1902, from
Mary Van Duesen's Lefebvre (and related) pages
[10].2005 Melbourne "Age" newspaper article on Lefebvre's "La Cigale"