Joseph-Désiré Court

Joseph-Désiré Court studied at French Academy in Rome and Beaux-Arts de Paris. Training under Antoine-Jean Gros is recorded. The recorded working language is French. Subjects and genres recorded for the work are history and portrait. Places of work recorded in the authority are Paris. Residence is recorded at Rouen. Positions recorded include curator and museum director. Works named in the authority record are Countess de Pagès, née de Cornellan, as St Catherine. Work by Joseph-Désiré Court is recorded in the collections of Saint-Germain-en-Laye Civic Museum, Musée de l'Histoire de France, Palace of Versailles, Amsterdam Museum and Bowes Museum. Distinctions recorded are Knight of the Legion of Honour, Prix de Rome and Order of the Dannebrog.

He was a descendant of the portrait painter Hyacinthe Rigaud and displayed an early interest in art. His first studies were with Marc-Antoine Descamps, at a drawing school established by Descamps' father, Jean-Baptiste. Following that, he worked at the studios of Antoine-Jean Gros in Paris. His allowance from his family was not quite enough for his needs, so he painted small pictures, which he sold through an agent. Despite this, he was unable to save enough money to continue his studies in Rome. Hoping that he could go at the expense of the state, he competed for the Prix de Rome and, in 1821, was awarded a prize for his depiction of Samson and Delilah. During his stay there, he continued to send works back to Paris for exhibition. His painting, "The Death of Caesar", was acquired by the Musée du Luxembourg in 1827. In 1828, the Académie de Rouen named him a corresponding member, and commissioned a large painting for their new meeting room. Although their request was for an easel painting only, he produced a monumental canvas depicting the playwright Corneille, receiving honors from the nobility after the premiere of his tragedy, Cinna. Court was presented with a gold medal in gratitude. Following the July Revolution, the government of King Louis-Philippe held a competition for a large canvas, to adorn the new room at the Chamber of Deputies. Three topics were offered. Court chose to paint Mirabeau facing Dreux-Brézé at the Estates General of 1789. His sketch came in second. Dissatisfied with the jury's decision, he executed the painting anyway; exhibiting it at the Salon of 1833. It may now be seen at the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Rouen. He did eventually receive some major public commissions, including figures for the Hôtel de Ville (1841), and paintings for the dome of Saint Isaac's Cathedral (1850). Much of his work was, however, devoted to portraiture. He had long wanted to return to his hometown so, in 1853, he accepted an appointment as Conservator at the Musée de Rouen; immediately beginning a project to renovate the museum's rooms. He succumbed to an unspecified chronic illness while in Paris receiving treatment. His remains were taken home and interred at the Rouen Monumental Cemetery. He had been the recipient of numerous honors, including the Legion of Honor in 1838.

• Illustration — Achilles Introduced to Nestor, 1820 • Illustration — Nymph and Faun bathing, 1824 • Illustration — The Death of Caesar, 1827 • Illustration — Guy-Victor Duperré, 1832 • Illustration — Portrait of the Marquis de Lafayette as a Lieutenant General in 1791, 1834 • Illustration — The King Distributing Battalion Standards to the National Guard, 1836 • Illustration — The Wedding of Leopold I of Belgium and Louise of Orléans, 1837 • Illustration — Portrait of Sylvain Charles Valée, 1838 • Illustration — Young Swiss Woman from Brientz, 1839 • Illustration — The Duke of Orléans Laying the First Stone of the Pont-Canal, 1840 • Illustration — Rigolette keeping herself busy while Germain is away, 1842 • Illustration — Prince Peter of Oldenburg in the Preobrazhensky Life-Guard Regiment, 1842 • Illustration — King Christian VIII and Queen Amalie in Their Coronation Robes, 1842 • Illustration — Portrait of Olga Alekseevna Golitsyna (Scherbatova), 1840s • Illustration — Portrait of Yekaterina Alekseevna Vasilchikova (Scherbatova), 1840s • Illustration — Portrait of André Dupin, 1850

The authorities additionally record the headings Joseph Désiré Court, Joseph-Desire Court, Joseph Desire Court, Court and jean de court. His recorded language was French.

Recorded positions include curator and museum director. He belonged to Académie des sciences, belles-lettres et arts de Rouen. He worked at Paris and Rouen.

Joseph-Désiré Court is recorded as having received Knight of the Legion of Honour, Prix de Rome and Order of the Dannebrog.