Hémicycle (section 2) 1842

Paul Delaroche painted this section of the Hémicycle in the mid-19th century for the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris. It depicts a gathering of renowned artists throughout history. The location of this artwork is particularly significant. The École des Beaux-Arts was the central institution for artistic training in France, and its curriculum and aesthetics shaped art for decades. Placing historical artists within its walls serves to legitimize and construct a particular artistic lineage. It embodies the values and ideals that the institution sought to instill in its students, effectively creating a pantheon of artistic heroes for emulation. Delaroche's choices about who to include and how to represent them reflect the values of his time. To fully understand this work, we might research the École des Beaux-Arts's history, its curriculum, and the debates surrounding artistic education in 19th-century France. This illuminates the social and institutional forces that shaped this artwork and its meaning.