François-Joseph Navez | Neoclassical painter

François-Joseph Navez (1787-1869) was a Belgian Neoclassical painter; known for his portraits and genre scenes.

As the son of an alderman, in a privileged family, he was able to devote himself entirely to art from an early age.

From 1803 to 1808, he was a pupil at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Brussels, where he studied with Pierre Joseph Célestin François.

In 1810, together with Antoine Brice and Antoine Cardon, among others, he helped create the "Société des amateurs d'arts".

In 1812, he was awarded first prize in a contest for history painting.

This enabled him to go to Paris, where he worked and studied with Jacques-Louis David from 1813-1816.

The following year he went to Rome, where he made the acquaintance of Ingres.

He would live and work there until 1822.

Upon returning to Belgium, he set up a studio.

In 1825, he married Augustine-Flore de Lathuy (1798-1867), the daughter of a judge.

When he became established, he began taking students.

Alfred Cluysenaar, Fanny Geefs and Auguste Danse were among the more notable.

In 1852, his best-known student, Jean-François Portaels, married his daughter Marie-Hélène (1828-1855).

Navez was elected a fourth class member of the Royal Institute of the Netherlands in 1826, he became a supernumerary associate in 1841 and resigned in 1851.

In 1830, he was named a member of his alma-mater, the Royal Academy.

He was one of the founding members of the Royal Monument Commission, created in 1835.

That same year, he was appointed Director of the Royal Academy.

During the 1850s, he lost several close friends and family members.

In 1863, he resigned from the Academy, citing health problems.

He died in 1869, in the company of Portaels and his wife's relatives, and was interred at Laeken Cemetery.

Streets have been named after him in Charleroi and Schaerbeek. | Source: © Wikipedia

François-Joseph Navez (1787-1869) è stato un pittore neoclassico Belga, noto per i suoi ritratti e scene di genere.

Di chiara impostazione neoclassica, fu allievo dapprima di Pierre-Joseph Célestin François a Bruxelles, poi a Parigi, dal 1813 al 1816, di Jacques-Louis David.

Trascorse quindi quattro anni in Italia, fra il 1817 ed il 1821.

Navez eccelse nell'arte del ritratto, per la quale acquisì una notevole fama, ma si produsse anche con successo in quadri storici e mitologici.

Fu Direttore dell'Accademia reale di Belle arti di Bruxelles dal 1835 al 1862 ed ebbe numerosi allievi.

Fra questi si possono citare: Jean-François Portaels, Alfred Stevens, Alfred Cluysenaar, Fanny Corr e Auguste Danse.

Navez fu membro fondatore della Commissione reale per i Monumenti, creata nel 1835.

Massone, fu membro del Grande Oriente del Belgio.

Morì a Bruxelles all'età di 82 anni.

Nelle città di Schaerbeek e di Charleroi gli è stata intitolata una strada.