16 Facts About Antoine Vollon

Antoine Vollon was a French realist artist, best known as a painter of still lifes, landscapes, and figures.

Antoine Vollon was born the son of an ornamental craftsman in Lyon, France.

Antoine Vollon began an apprenticeship to an engraver in metal, and studied under Jehan Georges Vibert at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Lyon from 1850 to 1853 to become a printmaker.

Antoine Vollon then worked at decorating enamelled pans and stoves.

Antoine Vollon became friends with Alexandre Dumas, Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux, Honore Daumier and Charles-Francois Daubigny.

Antoine Vollon once described himself as a young artist "madly in love with painting".

Antoine Vollon aspired to paint figures and not only still lifes which were the lowest acceptable genre for the Salon.

Antoine Vollon submitted a figure painting of a woman carrying a large basket on her back, Femme du Pollet a Dieppe, to the 1876 Salon, where it won first prize and received universally great reviews.

Antoine Vollon had learned how to play the political game that would earn him State patronage and enable him to win numerous awards.

Tabler describes his ambition and the decades-long strategies Antoine Vollon used to secure a place in history.

Antoine Vollon won a third-class medal in 1865, a second-class in 1868, and first-class in 1869.

Antoine Vollon was a member of the Salon's jury for at least ten years starting in 1870.

Antoine Vollon became a Chevalier of the Legion of Honor in 1870, and eight years later received the Officer's cross.

Antoine Vollon was elected to the Academie des Beaux-Arts in 1897.

Antoine Vollon died shortly thereafter, on 27 August 1900, at the age of 67.

Antoine Vollon is buried in Pere Lachaise Cemetery, in the 20th arrondissement of Paris.