Pierre Carrier-Belleuse

Pierre Carrier-Belleuse (1851–1932), French, Pierre Carrier-Belleuse, born Pierre Gérard Albert Carrier de Belleuse on January 28, 1851, in Paris, emerged as a distinguished French painter renowned for his evocative portraits of Opera dancers and his mastery of pastel. The son of the celebrated sculptor Albert-Ernest Carrier-Belleuse, Pierre's artistic journey began under his father's tutelage before advancing his studies with Alexandre Cabanel at the École des beaux-arts in Paris. His debut at the Salon in 1875 marked the start of a prolific career, earning him a mention honorable in 1887 and a silver medal at the 1889 Exposition Universelle, which granted him hors-concours status. Carrier-Belleuse's oeuvre, predominantly focused on the feminine form, gained widespread acclaim, with his drawings of dancers frequently featured in Le Figaro illustré.
A pivotal figure in the art world, Carrier-Belleuse joined the Société nationale des beaux-arts in 1890, becoming a sociétaire by 1893, and later presided over the Société internationale de peinture et de sculpture in 1895. His marriage to Thérèse Duhamel-Surville, a great-niece of Honoré de Balzac, in 1885, coincided with his exclusive shift to pastel, a medium that defined his later work. Beyond the studio, Carrier-Belleuse was an influential educator at the Académie Julian during the 1890s and a key participant in the Wissant artists' colony, drawing inspiration from the Opal Coast's landscapes. His legacy is commemorated by a plaque at his long-time residence in Paris's 17th arrondissement and his final resting place in Suresnes's Cimetière Carnot, alongside Laure Surville, reflecting his enduring connection to France's cultural heritage.
  • Contemplation by firelight (1902)

    Contemplation by firelight (1902)

    Pierre Carrier-Belleuse (French, 1851–1932)

    A woman sits lost in thought, the fire’s glow flickering across her face. Shadows dance around her, deepening the quiet intensity of her gaze. The warmth of the flames contrasts with the cool darkness, wrapping her in a moment of solitary reflection.