Théodore Géricault

Birth Name:

Jean-Louis André Théodore Géricault

Birth Date:

September 26, 1791

Birth Place:

Rouen, Normandy, France

Death Date:

January 26, 1824

Place of Death:

Paris, France

Age:

Cause of Death:

Complications from a spinal tumor

Cemetery Name:

Cimetière du Père Lachaise

Claim to Fame:

Artists

Théodore Géricault was one of the pioneers of the Romantic movement and his expressive works include portraits and military themes. His best-known painting is The Raft of Medusa which is a dramatic interpretation of the aftermath of a French shipwreck, a contemporary tragedy. born in Rouen, France to an upper middle-class family, Géricault's family moved to Paris in 1797 when he was 5 years old. Though he had shown an early promise in art, his father did not want him to pursue it as a career. After his mother died in 1808, he received an annuity which gave him some form of financial independence. At 17 years old, Géricault started secretly studying art under Carle Vernet. Vernet specialized in military paintings, genre paintings, and equestrian paintings. In 1810, wanting a more formal training, he studied classical figure art under Pierre-Narcisse Guérin. After 11 months, he opted instead to just paint the masters at the Louvre (only to be banned for getting into a heated argument with another artist). In 1819, Géricault completed what would become his most famous painting, “The Raft of the Medusa”. It depicted the harrowing last hours of a recent shipwreck that became a national disaster. In 1819, the painting was exhibited at the annual Paris Salon and, though it was awarded a gold medal, received conflicted reviews for the political undertones. In 1820, Géricault toured the painting through England, where it was a success. Later in his life he traveled to England where visions of the poor and downtrodden greatly impacted his art. Plagued by ill health all his life, Géricault died in 1824 at just 32 years old. Months later, the Louvre purchased “The Raft of Medusa”.

Fun Fact

In 1818, Géricault had a controversial son, Georges-Hippolyte, with his maternal aunt. The two had a secret relationship for decades. When the affair was found out, the family separated the two. In protest, Géricault shaved his head and turned all his attention to his art.

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 12

Grave Location Description

As you enter the cemetery through the main entrance, walk straight ahead and go past the Memorial to the Dead on your left. Just a short distance Division 12 will be on your right. The spectacular tomb to this great French painter Théodore Géricault can be found near the intersection of Chemin Talma and Chemin Mehul directly across from the chapel on the road.