Théodore Géricault from Private Collections

On August 21 , Alexandrine-Modeste Caruel is exiled to an estate near Versailles after giving birth to their son. The family tries to keep the scandal a secret and Géricault withdraws to his studio to work alone. Work on The Raft of the Medusa is completed. The painting is taken in June to the Théatre Italien where entries for the Salon are being prepared for display. On August 25 , The Salon opens at the Louvre and The Raft of the Medusa is the center of attention; however, the work receives mixed reviews, mostly because of its politically provocative topic. Géricault, disappointed by the reception, leaves for a holiday with friends at Féricy near Fontainebleau. He falls severely ill and shows signs of depression. On December 31 , the Raft wins a gold medal. The director of the Royal Museums, the Comte de Forbin, offers the artist a 6 , 000 franc commission to produce a religious painting. From June through December, The Raft of the Medusa is displayed at the Egyptian Hall in Piccadilly. Approximately 50 , 000 visitors attend, and Géricault earns 17 - 20 , 000 francs. Géricault makes several trips to Paris to buy painting supplies, and eventually goes to Brussels to visit the exiled Jacques-Louis David before returning to London. He comes to an arrangement with the printer Hullmandel and the firm Rodwell & Martin to publish a series of his lithographs. The Raft of the Medusa is displayed in Dublin in February and March. In May, Rodwell & Martin publish thirteen of Géricault’s lithographs under the title Various Subjects Drawn from Life on Stone . These include fashionable equestrian subjects, scenes of work ( Adelphi Wharf ), and the life of the poor ( Pity the Sorrows of a Poor Old Man ). Géricault is invited by the painter Thomas Lawrence, President of the Royal Academy, to a banquet in Lawrence’s honor. He becomes absorbed in the influence of English sporting and artistic traditions as well as landscape painting. Géricault attends the Epsom Downs Derby races in June in the company of Adam Elmore, the London horse dealer who was also his host. Due to financial losses resulting from bad investments, Géricault paints works specifically to sell and starts on four series of lithographs for the firms of Gihaut and Mme. Hulin. In the summer, Géricault’s illness returns after several riding accidents. He stays with his friend Dedreux-Dorcy. In spite of his bad health, Géricault’s productivity does not diminish as he works on paintings of horses, landscapes and Oriental subjects. Géricault leaves for England on April 10 . After a series of illnesses, he returns to France in December.

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