Générosité d'Alexandre

Générosité d'Alexandre or Generosity of Alexander is a neoclassical style, oil-on-canvas painting by Jérôme-Martin Langlois.[1] The painting was exhibited at the 1819 Paris Salon and won a first-prize medal. It is currently on display at the Musée des Augustins in Toulouse, France. In the painting, Alexander the Great gives his concubine, Campaspe, as a gift to the painter Apelles when he sees that the painter has fallen in love with her. The painting is a depiction of a well-known and perhaps apocryphal story of Alexander the Great's generosity.

Générosité d'Alexandre
English: 'Generosity of Alexander'
ArtistJérôme-Martin Langlois
Completion date1819 (1819)
Mediumoil on canvas
MovementNeoclassical style
SubjectAlexander the Great
Campaspe
Apelles
Dimensions287 cm (113 in) x 356.9 cm (140.5 in)
LocationMusée des Augustins, Toulouse, France

Description

In the painting Apelles is sketching Alexander the Great's mistress Campaspe and has fallen in love with her. Alexander is so appreciative of the painter's skill that he gives him Campaspe. The painter is portrayed as thankful and Campaspe is seen sitting with her feet on a leopard skin, looking down toward the floor.[2]

The dimensions of the painting are 287 cm (113 in) x 356.9 cm (140.5 in).[3] The Neoclassical style painting follows the theme of an unfinished 1813 painting with the same subject matter by Langlois' teacher Jacques-Louis David.[4][5]

History

The painting won a first-prize medal[4] and was purchased at the 1819 Paris Salon.[6] It is in the Musée des Augustins in Toulouse, France, which is currently closed for renovations until 2025.[4][7]

Langlois also completed a black chalk presentation drawing,[4] sized 39 cm (15 in) x 51.4 cm (20.2 in), in preparation for the painting. It was titled Alexander Ceding Campaspe to Apelles and was exhibited at Zagrelli, Brady & Co. in 1986.[1]

References
  1. Goldner, George R.; Hendrix, Lee (1992). European drawings : catalogue of the collections. Malibu, Calif.: J. Paul Getty Museum. p. 154. ISBN 9780892362196. Archived from the original on 3 March 2023. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
  2. "Alexander Ceding Campaspe to Apelles". www.getty.edu. Getty. Archived from the original on 22 January 2023. Retrieved 24 January 2023.
  3. "Générosité d'Alexandre ou Alexandre cédant Campaspe à Apelle". Artnet. Artnet Worldwide Corporation. Archived from the original on 22 January 2023. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
  4. The J. Paul Getty Museum Journal. Los Angeles: J Paul Getty Museum Publications. 1987. p. 198. ISBN 9780892361335. Archived from the original on 3 March 2023. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
  5. Bordes, Philippe (2022). Jacques Louis David : radical draftsman. New York, New York: Yale University Press. p. 248. ISBN 9781588397461. Archived from the original on 3 March 2023. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
  6. "Generosity of Alexander - Alexander gives up Campaspe, his mistress, to Apelles - painting". Augustins. Musée des Augustins. Archived from the original on 22 January 2023. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
  7. "Museum Under Renovation- Museum Closed". Augustins. Musée des Augustins. Archived from the original on 22 January 2023. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
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