Henri Grévedon was a distinguished French painter, miniaturist, engraver and lithographer. A precocious talent, he enrolled at the Academy in Paris at just eight years where he won an Academy medal at 13. He’s predominantly known for his masterful lithographs but also portraits in oil. His sitters are a veritable ‘who’s who’ of dignitaries and public figures including Empress Catherine II, Emperor Alexander I, Duchess Cecilia of Oldenburg, actress Mademoiselle Mars, and German singer Henrietta Sontag among others.

He was a member of both the Swedish and Russian academies and won gold medals at the Paris Salon. His works are held in numerous public collections, such as the British Museum, Harvard Art Museum, Science Museum, and the Rijksmuseum.

Alongside his artistic career, he was also a keen historian and collector, owning at least one work by Johannes Vermeer.

Exhibited

Paris Salon, Royal Academy in London.

Public Collections

British Museum, Art Institute of Chicago, Harvard Art Museums, Science Museum, Brooklyn Museum, Rijksmuseum.

Timeline

1776

Born in Paris, France. His father, Pierre Ambroise Henri Grévedon, was an officer in the guard of King Louis XVI.

Lived in the Louvre, Paris where his father worked.

As a young boy, he honed his draughtsmanship by producing copies of master works.

1784

One of his sketches was spotted by the eminent painter Nicolas Bernard Lépicié (1735-1784) who suggested he enrol at the Academy. He was eight years old.

1789

Awarded an Academy medal.
Trained under Baron Jean-Baptiste Regnault (1754-1829) at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris.

1798

Debuted at the Paris Salon where he continued to exhibit regularly until 1806.

1804

Awarded a first-class gold medal at the Paris Salon for ‘Achilles Landing on the Coast of Troy’.

1806

Moved to Russia where he produced numerous portraits for dignitaries.

Appointed an honorary member of the Imperial Academy of Saint Petersburg.

1810

Married the actress Aimée Marie Sophie Louise Devin (1792-1864). The pair had three daughters and a son.
Admitted to the St. Petersburg Academy of Arts.

1812

Travelled to Stockholm, Sweden where he became a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Fine Arts.

C.1812-1816

Lived in London, England where he worked predominantly as a portrait miniaturist and studied the works of Sir Thomas Lawrence.

1816

Returned to France.

Honed his skills as a lithographer to meet a growing demand in France.

1824

Awarded a first-class medal at the Paris Salon for his lithographic drawings. He continued to exhibit lithographs regularly until 1859.

1832

Became a Knight of the Legion of Honor.

1846

Exhibited paintings regularly at the Paris Salon.

1860

Died in Paris, France. Funeral held at Notre-Dame-de-Lorette, Paris. He’d amassed numerous old master paintings during his lifetime which were subsequently sold. These included ‘Woman With A Pearl Necklace’ by Johannes Vermeer.