Carolus-Duran

Carolus-Duran
Carolus-Duran (1837–1917), French, Carolus-Duran, born Charles Auguste Émile Durant on July 4, 1837, in Lille, France, emerged as one of the most celebrated portrait painters of the Third Republic, earning the moniker 'painter of high society.' His artistic journey began under the tutelage of sculptor Jean-Baptiste Cadet de Beaupré and painter François Souchon, a pupil of Jacques-Louis David, in Lille before moving to Paris in 1853. Adopting the pseudonym Carolus-Duran, he immersed himself in the vibrant Parisian art scene, studying at the Académie Suisse from 1859 to 1861. His early work reflected the realist influence of Gustave Courbet, whom he met during this period, and he forged lasting friendships with contemporaries like Édouard Manet and Henri Fantin-Latour.
A pivotal scholarship from Lille enabled Carolus-Duran to study in Rome from 1862 to 1866, where his artistic vision expanded. His painting 'Les Assassinés,' exhibited at the Salon of 1866, not only won him a medal but also marked his first major sale to the French state. This success funded a transformative three-year sojourn in Spain, where the works of Velázquez profoundly influenced his style, steering him away from realism towards a more refined technique. Carolus-Duran's personal life flourished alongside his career; his 1868 marriage to Pauline Croizette, a talented pastellist and miniaturist, was both a romantic and artistic partnership, with Croizette often serving as his muse. Together, they navigated the heights of Parisian society, leaving an indelible mark on the cultural landscape of their time.
  • Natalie Barney (ca. 1900)

    Natalie Barney (ca. 1900)

    Carolus-Duran (French, 1837–1917)

    A woman gazes sideways, lips parted as if mid-conversation. Her dark dress melts into the shadows, but light catches the curve of her cheek and the loose strands escaping her updo. There’s an energy in her posture—leaning slightly forward, one hand resting on her hip—that suggests wit barely contained.

  • Untitled (ca. 1900)

    Untitled (ca. 1900)

    Carolus-Duran (French, 1837–1917)

    A woman gazes past the viewer, her dark dress blending into the shadows. Light catches the delicate lace at her collar and the soft curve of her cheek, suggesting a quiet moment of reflection. The brushwork feels both precise and fleeting, as if capturing a thought just before it slips away.