Christus Consolator (1837)

Ary Scheffer prints bring the poetic, soulful world of French Romantic painting into your home. Scheffer was a Dutch-born painter in Paris, famous for scenes from Dante, Goethe and Byron, moving religious pictures and portraits of the leading figures of his day. Our collection of fine art prints covers his literary and religious paintings, portraits and studies.

About Ary Scheffer

Ary Scheffer was born in Dordrecht on 10 February 1795, the son of the painters Johan Bernard Scheffer and Cornelia Lamme. He studied at the Amsterdam drawing academy from the age of eleven. After his father's death in 1809 he moved to Lille, and in 1811 to Paris with his mother, where he studied at the École des Beaux-Arts under Pierre-Narcisse Guérin. His brothers, the writer Karel and the painter Hendrik, followed.

He exhibited at the Salon from 1812 and became known around 1817. Romanticism was then in vogue, with Géricault and Delacroix, and Scheffer turned to literary subjects. He taught the children of the Duke of Orléans and in 1830 helped persuade him to become King Louis-Philippe, prospering during his reign. In 1848 he was made a commander of the Legion of Honour and fought in the June Days.

He painted many famous people of his time, including Charles Dickens, the Marquis de Lafayette and the singer Pauline Viardot. A heart condition limited him in later years, and he died at Argenteuil on 15 June 1858.

Style and Subjects

Scheffer's mature style is gentle, idealised and spiritual, with pale, smooth figures, soft colour and melancholy faces. He drew many subjects from Dante, Goethe's Faust, Byron and Walter Scott, often lovers and tragic heroines.

His religious paintings, such as Christus Consolator, were hugely popular through engravings, and his portraits are elegant and sensitive.

Famous Works

• The Death of Géricault (1824), Louvre, Paris. The Romantic painter Géricault on his deathbed.
• The Retreat of Napoleon's Army from Russia in 1812 (1826), Yale University Art Gallery. Soldiers struggling through the snow.
• The Souliot Women (1827), Louvre, Paris. A scene from the Greek war of independence.
• Francesca da Rimini and Paolo Malatesta Seen by Dante and Virgil. The tragic lovers from Dante's Inferno, his most famous picture.
• Christus Consolator (1837). Christ comforting the suffering, widely reproduced in engravings.
• Dante and Beatrice (1846), Wolverhampton Art Gallery. The poet and his beloved in a vision.
• Charles Dickens (1855), National Portrait Gallery, London. A portrait of the novelist.
• Margaret at the Fountain (1858). Gretchen from Goethe's Faust.

Decorating with Scheffer Prints

Scheffer's literary and religious pictures suit a library, reading room or quiet study, where their soft colour and poetic mood invite reflection.

His portraits, like Portrait of Pauline Viardot, suit a music room or formal sitting room, and Mignon and Margaret are lovely in a bedroom.

FAQ

Who was Ary Scheffer?

Ary Scheffer (1795–1858) was a Dutch-French Romantic painter in Paris, known for literary scenes from Dante, Goethe and Byron, religious works and portraits.

What is Ary Scheffer's most famous painting?

Francesca da Rimini and Paolo Malatesta Seen by Dante and Virgil is his best-known work.

Did Scheffer have links to the French royal family?

Yes. He taught the children of the future King Louis-Philippe and helped persuade him to take the throne in 1830.

Where can I see Scheffer's paintings?

The Louvre, the National Portrait Gallery in London, Wolverhampton Art Gallery and the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston hold his work.

Related Artists

• Pierre-Narcisse Guérin: his teacher in Paris
• Eugène Delacroix: leading Romantic of the same era
• Théodore Géricault: Romantic painter whose deathbed he painted
• Paul Delaroche: fellow history painter in Paris