Portrait of Charles Girault

Evert Louis van Muyden, a Swiss artist of notable versatility, was born on 18 July 1853 in Albano Laziale and passed away on 27 February 1922 in Orsay. Born into a family with a rich artistic heritage, his father, Jacques Alfred van Muyden, was a painter, and his brothers, Albert-Steven and Henri, also pursued careers in the arts. Evert's early education under his father laid the foundation for his diverse artistic talents, which he further honed at the Beaux-Arts in Geneva, under Carl Steffeck in Berlin, and with Jean-Léon Gérôme in Paris. Van Muyden's career was marked by his adaptability and depth, transitioning from landscapes influenced by Corot during his time in Rome (1879–1884) to specializing in animal paintings in the style of Antoine-Louis Barye after 1885. His dedication to capturing the essence of his subjects led him to spend considerable time at the Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle in Paris and the Zoologischer Garten in Basel, producing an extensive collection of drawings and engravings of flora and fauna. Beyond his paintings, van Muyden gained acclaim as an illustrator, contributing to works such as Champfleury's 'Contes choisis' and Emil Frey's 'Die Kriegstaten der Schweizer'. Despite his achievements in portraiture and sculpture, it was his engravings and book illustrations that cemented his legacy, overshadowing his other artistic endeavors.