In contrast to the fame of his artistic works, biographical information about the French artist Henri Fantin-Latour is very limited. It is known that he was born on January 14, 1836 in Grenoble. He received his artistic education first from his father, then studied at the School of Fine Arts in Paris, while studying medicine.

Although his contemporaries were impressionists, Henri adhered to a style close to realism. He is one of the artists whose works were presented at the “Paris Salon” and the “Salon of the Rejected”.

In the salons, he became acquainted with the works of Edouard Manet, which made a huge impression on him. At the same time, he met the English artist Whistler, who introduced him to English artistic circles, and Fantin-Latour lived for some time in England, many of his portraits and flower arrangements are in English galleries. Fantin-Latour preferred “well-composed” subjects and compositions. His portraits are especially well-known, the largest of them being “In Honor of Delacroix” (1864, Paris, Louvre).

The almost naturalistic treatment of the subject in his paintings is evidence of the development of the artistic tradition under the influence of photography towards an accurate reflection of the world.

The artist creates vivid individual images and at the same time conveys a special atmosphere of creative collaboration. Henri
was friends with many artists and he painted their portraits.

Henri Fantin-Latour was married to a fairly well-known artist at that time, Victoria Dubourg, who painted still lifes. Another
famous artist, Edgar Degas, painted a portrait of Victoria, depicting an empty chair to her left: it was believed that this chair was intended for her fiancé, and later husband, Fantin-Latour.

Henri Fantin-Latour was called the “master of flowers”. He painted petals, stamens, and leaves of flowers with loving attention and a light and precise touch of his brush; his bouquets exude freshness. A rose variety, “Fantin Latour”, was named in honor of the man on whose canvases the beautiful creations of nature came to life. The flowers that the artist painted with such love repaid their gratitude by perpetuating his name.

Balanced, restrained in composition, his floral still lifes were distinguished by modest sophistication and aristocracy. Amazing, almost scientific accuracy in their transmission was combined in Fantin-Latour with inner poetry and admiration for the beauty of the plant.

Henri Fantin-Latour was the “forerunner of symbolism”. He used his brush specifically for floral compositions.

Each flower, their arrangement on the canvas meant something, these were the artist’s secret letters, secret signs – notes and
harmonies. It was as if a scent was pouring from his still lifes, mixed with a melody. Latour loved music very much, perceived
it subtly and sensually.

Henri Fantin-Latour’s still lifes are exhibited in the Hermitage and in many other museums around the world.

Henri Fantin-Latour loved classical music very much, especially the works of Johannes Brahms, Robert Schumann, Hector Berlioz, Richard Wagner and other composers. Later, when the already mature artist turned to the world of allegories, he painted a whole cycle of images inspired by the musical themes of his favorite composers.