Henri-Anatole de Beaulieu 1819-1884

Considered by critics to be one of Eugène Delacroix’s finest pupils, Henri Anatole de Beaulieu made a striking debut at the 1844 Salon with a large, dramatic scene inspired by the Inquisition, already revealing his romantic sensibility and his taste for spectacular, carefully composed works. A Parisian, he shared his master’s early fascination with the Orient and the warm, vibrant atmospheres of the Mediterranean. He traveled extensively to Italy, North Africa, and the Near East, experiences that shaped a body of work initially characterized by refined, poetic Orientalism.

During the Second Empire, Beaulieu exhibited frequently at the Salon, favoring genre scenes that showcased his mastery of light and movement and earned him a measure of success. He was awarded a medal in 1868, and in 1870 he achieved a major triumph with Le Duel, ancienne batterie de Goalennec, a dramatic depiction of a nocturnal sword fight inspired by a real encounter. This painting, one of his most famous, was purchased directly by the state and five years later placed in the Musée des Beaux-Arts in Bordeaux, where it remains today.

A discreet yet respected artist, Beaulieu continued to produce work until his death in 1884, leaving behind a powerful oeuvre still marked by the Romantic legacy and a lingering fascination with Oriental exoticism.