François-Joseph NAVEZ (Charleroi, 1787 - Brussels, 1869)

This artist, who originally came from Charleroi, studied under the French neo-classical painter Jacques-Louis David (1748-1825). Thanks to a scholarship he spent five years in Italy between 1817 and 1822 and it was here that he met other artists including Ingres and Granet.

At first he worked on state portraits. He excelled in this type of work that became very popular at the end of the 18th century.

The precision and his refined way of drawing along with his sense of detail and the way he used his materials reveals the technical ease with which this painter worked. Navez also painted religious and mythological compositions as well as large historical scenes.

After his stay in Italy, he produced compositions, which he set in Italian-style scenes and in which several people featured in more sentimental or nostalgic settings. Jean Portaels (1815-1895), famous orientalist painter was to study under him and in marrying his daughter, became his son-in-law.