The Proposal

Adrien Moreau, a French genre and history painter, was born on April 18, 1843, in Troyes, and passed away on February 22, 1906, in Paris. Despite his family's initial reluctance towards an artistic career, Moreau pursued his passion, leaving Troyes to study at the École des beaux-arts in Paris, where he was admitted on October 7, 1863, under the guidance of Alexandre Laemlein. His artistic training continued in the studios of Léon Cognet and Isidore Pils, where he honed his skills in history painting, a genre he would master and make his own. Moreau's work is characterized by a romantic flair, bringing to life the legends and anecdotes of bygone eras with a vivid, picturesque quality. His subjects ranged from medieval scenes to portraits of high society women, and he was also renowned for his animal paintings, particularly his meticulous depictions of horses. Moreau's debut at the Paris Salon in 1868 with a biblical subject earned him widespread acclaim. Over the years, he became a regular exhibitor, with notable works such as 'Néron chez les Belluaires' and pieces inspired by the French Revolution and the First Empire. His contributions to art were recognized with a second-class medal in 1876 and a silver medal at the 1889 Exposition Universelle. In 1892, Moreau was honored as a Chevalier of the Légion d'honneur. His paintings, celebrated for their narrative depth and historical accuracy, found homes in French museums and private collections abroad, with works preserved in institutions like the Musée des beaux-arts de Troyes and the Musée d'Arts de Nantes.