The Rose

Frédéric Joseph Pierre Timothée Soulacroix, a French painter active in Italy, was born on October 1, 1858, in Rome, and passed away on September 3, 1933, in Cesena, Italy. The son of Charles Soulacroix, a renowned French sculptor and painter, and Giacinta Diofebo, Frédéric spent his early years in Rome before moving to France with his father from 1863 to 1870. The family eventually settled in Florence, Italy, where Frédéric enrolled at the Academy of Fine Arts in 1873 and later joined the Scuola di Pittura in October 1876. His marriage to Julie Fernande Blanc in 1890 marked the beginning of a family life in Florence, where they raised five children. Soulacroix's dedication to the French cause and his contributions to culture were recognized with his appointment as an Officer of the Academy in 1924 and his wife's similar honor in 1954. His artistic achievements were further celebrated with his knighthood in the Legion of Honor in August 1929. Soulacroix specialized in genre paintings that captured anecdotal scenes from the 18th century and contemporary life, earning him widespread acclaim across Italy, England, Germany, the United States, Canada, and South America. His portraits of notable figures, including Queen Margherita of Italy and the King of Siam, showcased his skill and versatility. Despite the frequent misattribution of his works to his father, Soulacroix's prolific output secured his place in art history, with pieces held in prestigious institutions like the Philadelphia Museum of Art and London's Mansion House. His legacy is that of a painter who masterfully blended historical elegance with the vibrancy of his time, leaving an indelible mark on the art world.