Jules Richomme (9 September 1818, Paris – 16 October 1903, Paris)[1] was a French painter, designer, and engraver. He painted portraits, landscapes, history and genre scenes.
Jules Richomme (9 September 1818, Paris – 16 October 1903, Paris)[1] was a French painter, designer, and engraver. He painted portraits, landscapes, history and genre scenes.
He was the only son of the engraver Théodore Richomme. He initially studied with his father, then became a student of Michel Martin Drolling at the Beaux-Arts de Paris.[2] His first exhibit at the Salon came in 1833. He would exhibit there regularly until the 1880s; winning medals in 1840, 1842, 1861 and 1863.[1] He took part in the Prix de Rome competitions in 1838 and 1840, but was unsuccessful.
In 1847, he made an extended visit to Italy; spending much of his time in Rome. This resulted in a change to his style; inspiring him to make his paintings brighter and more lively. In 1855, he received an honorable mention at the Exposition Universelle.[2] During that year and the following, he worked with Camille Corot on decorating two chapels at the church of Saint-Nicolas-et-Saint-Marc in Ville-d'Avray.
More decorations followed; in the chapel of Saint Vincent de Paul at the church of Saint-Séverin (1861), and in the chapel of the Virgin at the church of Notre-Dame-de-la-Nativité de Bercy (1863).
Around 1865, he married the lyric soprano Jenny Paupaille (born c.1835). He adopted the son from her first marriage, Camille Dumény, who became a well-known comic actor.[3] Their daughter Jeanne also became an opera singer, and wife of the novelist André Beaunier.[4] His connections to the theater led to a lifelong friendship with the composer, Charles Gounod. Their correspondence was later published by his son-in-law.
He also created non-religious decorations; including those at the Cour d'assises for the Seine (1868). In 1879 he was one of the painters chosen by the French government to decorate the Théâtre de Cherbourg.[5]
In addition to painting historical and religious subjects, such as scenes from the life of Joan of Arc, Francis I of France, and Jacques Cœur, he created engraved illustrations of scenes from the Bible.
