Augustin-Louis Belle

Bio

The reaffirmation by the authorities of the Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture of their support for the grand genre, the painting of subjects from the Bible, the lives of the Saints, history or mythology, encouraged ambitious young artist of widely varying talent to compete for the prizes which would bring them to the attention of both the public and the artistic establishment. A successful history painter could not only expect to receive commissions from the Crown, through the patronage of the First Painter and Surintendant des Bâtiments du Roi, but could be showered with worldly honours and titles, the cordon noir of the Order of Saint Michael and the title of Professor (with a substantial studio of fee paying students), or even Director of the Academy.