Georges Seurat

Birth Name:

Georges Pierre Seurat

Birth Date:

December 2, 1859

Birth Place:

Paris, France

Death Date:

March 29, 1891

Place of Death:

110 Boulevard de Magenta, Paris, France

Age:

Cause of Death:

Infectious angina, meningitis, pneumonia

Cemetery Name:

Cimetière du Père Lachaise

Claim to Fame:

Artists

Georges Seurat was a French painter and one of the pioneers of the Pointillist movement, a technique where paintings are made up of tiny dots of color. Born on December 2, 1859, in Paris, Seurat studied at the École des Beaux-Arts, where he developed his unique style. His most famous work, A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte (1884–1886), exemplifies Pointillism, using meticulous color theory to create vibrant, luminous scenes and is considered one of the icons of late 19th-century painting. Seurat's approach was rooted in scientific studies of color and optics, drawing on the work of theorists like Michel Eugène Chevreul. Although his career was short—he died in 1891 at just 31—his influence on modern art was profound. Seurat also worked with large-scale compositions, focusing on the impact of light and color. His innovative techniques laid the foundation for future movements such as Post-Impressionism and even elements of abstraction. Despite his early death, Seurat's legacy endures, and he remains a significant figure in the evolution of modern art.

Fun Facts

An early 20th century painting depicting three nude figures by George Seurat from the collection of Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen sold for $149 million at an auction at Christie’s in New York. Titled Les Poseuses, Ensemble (Petite version), the work is among the rarest paintings produced by Seurat residing in private hands and was expected to fetch a price over $100 million. Long before it came into Allen’s hands, the pointillist-style canvas was owned by John Quinn, the art collector and attorney who was an early promoter of the modern artist in the early 20th century.

Cemetery Information:

Final Resting Place:

Cimetière du Père Lachaise

16 Rue du Repos, 6ème division, Chemin Lesseps

Paris, , 75020

France

Europe

Map:

Map of Cimetière du Père-Lachaise in Paris, France

Grave Location:

Division 66

Grave Location Description

As you enter the cemetery through the main entrance walk one full section before turning left onto Avenue du Puits. Continue on and then veer right onto Chemin d’Ornano. With Division 66 on your left, continue on to Avenue des Peupliers where you will turn left and on the left you will find the tomb of renown French painter Georges Seurat and family.