French 1853-1923

Camille-Felix Bellanger follows in the strong French Academic tradition of his illustrious teachers William Adolphe Bougereau and Alexandre Cabanel with whom he studied at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris. At this school he received the second Prix de Rome in 1875. He established his place as a painter of history and genre.

Bellanger exhibited regularly at the Salon des Artistes Francais until his death. He exhibited “Mort d'abel”at the Salon of 1875 and the painting was acquired by the State of France. This painting is currently in the collection of the Musee du Louvre in Paris.

Other important works by the artist are ange au tombeau, Bacchante, Enfer du Dante, Aurore et crepuscule, Coucou, Portrait de Mlle Zozotte, sommeil de l'Amour, bouquetiere. His painting entitled “christ au tombeau” is in the Church Saint-Severin in Paris. He created a large number of portraits in both oil and pencil drawing; some of his exceptional and detailed drawings are in the collection of the Fine Arts Museum of San Francisco.

Bellanger exhibited lithographs and developed a speciality of portraits. Author of Carnet du jeune dessinateur and of Traite du Penture, he is also considered to be a writer about art. He was a professor of drawing at the Ecole militaire of St. Cyr. Bellanger was awarded the great disctinction of Chevalier of the Legion of Honor in 1911.

This exceptional painting by Bellanger was exhibited in the Salon des Artises Francais in 1897.