Firmin SALABERT (French, 1811 - 1895)
Son of Joseph and Rose Cathala, Firmin SALABERT was born in Gaillac on September 25, 1811, in a family of merchants. He is the last of three sons.
He had a rather sad childhood because the paternal trade had difficulties.
Soon fatherless, he was sent by his mother to a school where she could hardly afford the lessons.
He learned to read and write but also to daub (expression of his school teacher) with pencils and feathers on all media, with great happiness.
One day a merchant hawker of pictures, of Toulouse, named BARON, came to settle in Gaillac and rented a shop on Portal street where SALABERT lived. Images and engravings were the delight of Firmin Salabert and his dream was to acquire them all. Binding friendship with the merchant, he managed to come and see the pieces and draw them. As soon as his moments of freedom allowed him he was there, enjoying the friendly advices of the merchant.
He worked hard on a copy which, when finished, was seen by an amateur man who was intrigued by the young man's talent and wishing to meet him, offered to give him lessons. SALABERT refused because he had no money but the man assured him of free services. He started the next day.
This amateur was Mr. Gustave CONSTANT de SAINT SAUVEUR who had worked in Toulouse a few years with the painter Félix SAURINE, painter of historical subjects and portraits, student of David (from 1807 to 1809), and professor at the academy of Toulouse. Returned to Gaillac and endowed with a good fortune, he devoted his free time to painting.
The studio of M. CONSTANT de SAINT SAUVEUR possessed cartons of engravings and drawings, plaster models, easels, canvases, a whole universe discovered by SALABERT.
The teacher devoted himself to his pupil for four years, and progress was fast, both in art and in his general education. Then CONSTANT de SAINT SAUVEUR said to him: "My young friend, I have nothing more to teach you, you must now go and ask lessons from a man more educated than me." He then gave him a letter of recommendation for his former professor M. SAURINE in Toulouse.
SAURINE received him, examined his drawings, found them qualified, and admitted him among his students.
After a year in the middle of 70 students he won the first prize contest, finally after four years, he won six first prizes.
He then left Toulouse for Paris provided with a letter of recommendation from the members of the Toulouse town hall to meet INGRES at his studio rue des Marais (Visconti).
At first contact, the master refused him the entrance to his studio, already occupied by 80 students. Then after having asked to examine his drawings, he immediately granted him entry into his studio. SALABERT is then installed at No. 4 Rempart Saint Honore. INGRES introduced him in March 1833 at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts and had him signed in with four of his pupils. In 1833 SALABERT exhibited his first drawing at the Salon.
He worked there for a year, taking advantage of Ingres's advice. Then INGRES, appointed to Rome in December 1834, left Paris. Before leaving he would have advised SALABERT to make a trip to London and then made him promise to come and see him in Rome.
SALABERT continued to make portraits and with such success that he could pay his family expenses incurred by his stay in Paris. He kept coming back to see his family and his friends in Gaillac every two years during his whole life.
Following INGRES's advice, he went to London. His brother then an artist in the Italian theater performed in Paris and London. The theater had been installed in the Favart room in 1835. His brother gave him access to the distinguished artists of this theater. So he began this much sought-after collection of Italian theater artists.
Gathered in an album lithographed in 1835, it was appreciated by Queen Amelie and Queen Victoria. Beside the artists he made a large number of portraits of people from the society of London and Paris.
From this period he exhibited almost every year at the Louvre and The National Gallery.
From 1833 to 1880, he exhibited 42 works at the Salon.
In August 21, 1854, at Annecy, SALABERT, aged 44, married Clotilde DUNANT, who was ten years younger, daughter of Prosper DUNANT, painter and architect Annecy.
In 1888, Clotilde restored the ruins of Castle Sales in Lathuile to make their home and workshops.
1892, after the death of Clotilde DUNANT, SALABERT returns to Gaillac. He seeks public recognition and asks for the legion of honor taking advantage of his father-in-law's relations with Sadi CARNOT, but his assassination in Lyon puts an end to his dreams.
Death of the painter on July 21, 1895. His hometown decides to erect a mausoleum to the painter.
He had a rather sad childhood because the paternal trade had difficulties.
Soon fatherless, he was sent by his mother to a school where she could hardly afford the lessons.
He learned to read and write but also to daub (expression of his school teacher) with pencils and feathers on all media, with great happiness.
One day a merchant hawker of pictures, of Toulouse, named BARON, came to settle in Gaillac and rented a shop on Portal street where SALABERT lived. Images and engravings were the delight of Firmin Salabert and his dream was to acquire them all. Binding friendship with the merchant, he managed to come and see the pieces and draw them. As soon as his moments of freedom allowed him he was there, enjoying the friendly advices of the merchant.
He worked hard on a copy which, when finished, was seen by an amateur man who was intrigued by the young man's talent and wishing to meet him, offered to give him lessons. SALABERT refused because he had no money but the man assured him of free services. He started the next day.
This amateur was Mr. Gustave CONSTANT de SAINT SAUVEUR who had worked in Toulouse a few years with the painter Félix SAURINE, painter of historical subjects and portraits, student of David (from 1807 to 1809), and professor at the academy of Toulouse. Returned to Gaillac and endowed with a good fortune, he devoted his free time to painting.
The studio of M. CONSTANT de SAINT SAUVEUR possessed cartons of engravings and drawings, plaster models, easels, canvases, a whole universe discovered by SALABERT.
The teacher devoted himself to his pupil for four years, and progress was fast, both in art and in his general education. Then CONSTANT de SAINT SAUVEUR said to him: "My young friend, I have nothing more to teach you, you must now go and ask lessons from a man more educated than me." He then gave him a letter of recommendation for his former professor M. SAURINE in Toulouse.
SAURINE received him, examined his drawings, found them qualified, and admitted him among his students.
After a year in the middle of 70 students he won the first prize contest, finally after four years, he won six first prizes.
He then left Toulouse for Paris provided with a letter of recommendation from the members of the Toulouse town hall to meet INGRES at his studio rue des Marais (Visconti).
At first contact, the master refused him the entrance to his studio, already occupied by 80 students. Then after having asked to examine his drawings, he immediately granted him entry into his studio. SALABERT is then installed at No. 4 Rempart Saint Honore. INGRES introduced him in March 1833 at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts and had him signed in with four of his pupils. In 1833 SALABERT exhibited his first drawing at the Salon.
He worked there for a year, taking advantage of Ingres's advice. Then INGRES, appointed to Rome in December 1834, left Paris. Before leaving he would have advised SALABERT to make a trip to London and then made him promise to come and see him in Rome.
SALABERT continued to make portraits and with such success that he could pay his family expenses incurred by his stay in Paris. He kept coming back to see his family and his friends in Gaillac every two years during his whole life.
Following INGRES's advice, he went to London. His brother then an artist in the Italian theater performed in Paris and London. The theater had been installed in the Favart room in 1835. His brother gave him access to the distinguished artists of this theater. So he began this much sought-after collection of Italian theater artists.
Gathered in an album lithographed in 1835, it was appreciated by Queen Amelie and Queen Victoria. Beside the artists he made a large number of portraits of people from the society of London and Paris.
From this period he exhibited almost every year at the Louvre and The National Gallery.
From 1833 to 1880, he exhibited 42 works at the Salon.
In August 21, 1854, at Annecy, SALABERT, aged 44, married Clotilde DUNANT, who was ten years younger, daughter of Prosper DUNANT, painter and architect Annecy.
In 1888, Clotilde restored the ruins of Castle Sales in Lathuile to make their home and workshops.
1892, after the death of Clotilde DUNANT, SALABERT returns to Gaillac. He seeks public recognition and asks for the legion of honor taking advantage of his father-in-law's relations with Sadi CARNOT, but his assassination in Lyon puts an end to his dreams.
Death of the painter on July 21, 1895. His hometown decides to erect a mausoleum to the painter.
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