Jean-Baptiste Isabey (; 11 April 1767 – 18 April 1855) was a French painter born in Nancy, France. He was a successful artist, both under the First Empire and to the diplomats of the Congress of Vienna.
Early life and education
At the age of 19, after some lessons from Francois Dumont, miniature painter to Marie Antoinette, he became a pupil of Jacques-Louis David.
Career
Isabey gained employment at Versailles to paint portraits of the dukes of Angoulême and Berry, and was given a commission by the queen, the first of several he was given by successive French rulers until his death in 1855.
Patronized by Josephine and Napoleon Bonaparte, he arranged the ceremonies of their coronation and prepared drawings for the publication intended as its official commemoration, a work for which he was paid by Louis XVIII, whose portrait was engraved by Philibert-Louis Debucourt, was completed in 1814. Although Isabey did homage to Napoleon on his return from Elba, he continued to enjoy the favour of the Restoration, and took part in arrangements for the coronation of Charles X.
The July Monarchy conferred on him an important post in connection with the royal collections, and Napoleon III granted him a pension, and the cross of commander of the Legion of Honor. Review of Troops by the First Consul was one of his most important compositions.
Isabey's Boat(engraved, Landon, a drawing of Isabey and his family family, was produced at a time when he was occupied with lithography and was having immense success at the Salon of 1820. His portrait of Napoleon at Malmaison is considered his best, and even his tiny head of the king of Rome, painted for a breast-pin, is distinguished by decision and breadth.
A biography of Isabey was published by Edmond Taigny in 1859. Charles Lenormant's article, written for Joseph-François Michaud's Biog. Univ., was based on facts furnished by Isabey's family.
His son, Eugène, also became a well known painter.
References
Sources
Basily-Callimaki, Eva de, Mme, J.B. Isabey: sa vie, son temps, 1767-1855: Suivi du Catalogue de l'oeuvre gravee par et d'apres Isabey