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Pollice Verso by Jean-Léon Gérôme, 1872 is the immediate source of the "thumbs down" gesture in popular culture.
Born at Vesoul ( Haute-Saône). He went to Paris in 1841 and worked under Paul Delaroche , whom he accompanied to Italy (18441845). On his return he exhibited "The Cock-fight," which gained him a third-class medal in the Salon of 1847. "The Virgin with Christ" and "St John and Anacreon," "Bacchus and Cupid" took a second-class medal in 1848. He exhibited "Bacchus and Love, Drunk," a "Greek Interior" and "Souvenir d'Italie," in 1851; "Paestum" (1852); and "An Idyll" (1853).
In 1854 Gérôme made a journey to Turkey and the shores of the Danube, and in 1857 visited Egypt. To the exhibition of 1855 he contributed a "Pifferaro", a "Shepherd," "A Russian Concert" and a large historical canvas, "The Age of Augustus" and the "Birth of Christ." The last was somewhat confused in effect, but in recognition of its consummate ability the State purchased it.
Gérôme's reputation was greatly enhanced at the Salon of 1857 by a collection of works of a more popular kind: the "Duel: after a Masquerade," "Egyptian Recruits crossing the Desert," "Memnon and Sesostris" and "Camels Watering," the drawing of which was criticized by Edmond About.
In "Caesar" (1859) Gérôme tried to return to a severer class of work, but the picture failed to interest the public. "Phryne before the Areopagus," "Le Roi Candaule" and "Socrates finding Alcibiades in the House of Aspasia" (1861) gave rise to some scandal by reason of the subjects selected by the painter, and brought down on him the bitter attacks of Paul de Saint-Victor and Maxime Du CampMaxime Du Camp ( February 8, 1822 February 9, 1894) was a French writer. He was born in Paris, the son of a successful surgeon. He had a strong taste for travel, which his father's means enabled him to indulge as soon as his college days were over. Betwee. At the same Salon he exhibited the "Egyptian chopping Straw," and " RembrandtRembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn ( July 15, 1606 October 4, 1669) is generally considered one of the greatest painters in European art history, and the most important United Provinces ( Netherlands) painter of the seventeenth century. Rembrandt was also a p biting an Etching," two very minutely finished works.
Gérôme's best paintings are of Eastern subjects; among these may be named the "Turkish Prisoner and Turkish Butcher" (1863); "Prayer" (1865); "The Slave Market" (1867); and "The Harem out Driving" (1869). He often illustrated history, as in "Louis XIV and Molière" (1863); "The Reception of the Siamese Ambassadors at Fontainebleau" (1865); and the "Death of Marshal NeyMichel Ney ( January 10 1769 December 7 1815) called Le Rougeaud ("the ruddy") and le Brave des Braves ("the bravest of the brave") was a marshal of the French army who had fought in the French Revolutionary War and the Napoleonic Wars. He was born at Saa" (1868).
Gérôme was also successful as a sculptor; he executed, among other works; "Omphale" (1887), and the statue of the duc d'AumaleHenri Eugene Philippe Louis d'Orleans, duc d'Aumale ( January 16, 1822) ( May 7, 1897) was the fourth, and second youngest, son of Louis-Philippe, King of the French and Duc d'Orleans and Marie Amalie of Bourbon-Sicilies. He took the title of Duc d'Aumale which stands in front of the château of Chantilly (1899). His "Bellona" (1892), in ivory, metal, and precious stones, which was also exhibited in the Royal Academy of London, attracted great attention. The artist then began an interesting series of Conquerors, wrought in gold, silver and gems "Bonaparte entering Cairo" (1897); "Tamerlane" (1898); and "Frederick the Great" (1899). Gérôme was elected member of the Institut in 1865.
This article incorporates text from the public domain 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica. 1911 Britannica