Jean-Louis Demarne
(1744-1829)
Demarne was born in Brussels on 7 March 1744 and died in Paris on 24 March 1829. At a very young age, Demarne came to Paris and studied under the artist, Briard. He made his Salon debut in 1783 and in the same year came to the notice of the Academy. Initially, Demarne painted historical subjects but it was not long before he started to paint genre scenes and paintings of animals. He was decorated with the Legion d'honneur in 1828 and prior to that date had been awarded medals of excellence in 1806 and 1810.
Demarne bought a small country house and during lengthy walks in the country side, he was inspired to paint a series of works entitled, Great Walks! Two paintings of this series were exhibited at the Salon of 1801 and 1802. All country matters were encompassed in these works from harvesting scenes, animals grazing in the fields, peasant families in their homes. Another subject on which he concentrated was country fairs and many of these were exhibited at the Salons de L'Empire. Demarne also painted subjects from children's stories, notably Tom Thumb and Robinson Crusoe and Man Friday. In the former, he painted a gothic castle in a forest with great architectural accuracy and in the latter he displayed fine appreciation of exotic flowers and plant.
Demarne was also an engraver and designed for Sevres. Three engravings are in the collection of the Louvre.
Museums:
Cherbourg
Dijon
Paris: Louvre, Marmottan