Auguste Barthelemy Glaize (1807-1893)
[Auguste Glaize, Auguste B. Glaize]

Pupil of:	Achilee
Teacher of:	Theodule-Augustin Ribot

The history of art presents, in every period or generation, examples of men who are in advance of their time, and who, in spite of the restrictions and conventions of the period in whic they were born, contrive to emancipate themselves from all such thraldom and by their native originality create a distinct and independent course for themselves. Such an artist was Auguste Barthelemy Glaize. He was born at Montpelier in 1813, at a time when art in France was chained to the coldest classicism, when the painters were taught to ignore life entirely and to base their studies and their methods upon the antique - a beautiful and noble model, it is true, but cold and lifeless as the sculptured marble in which antique art had been preserved to modern times. These were the influences which surrounded young Glaize when he learned to draw as a schoolboy. But a change was coming. What we now know as the romantic movement in French art was gathering strength. A race of original and resolute men had determined to cast off the shackles imposed by the old order of things, and to ignore traditions with which they had no sympathy. Prominent among these revolutionaries were the brothers, Achilee and personal ways as he was original in his art, but with a large, warm heart. To this man Glaize, as a youth, went to learn lithography, because he could make his living by it while he learned to paint. Eugene Deveria, who lived with his brother, advised and instructed the young fellow in painting. So, in due time, he became an artist, and commenced to exhibit at the Salon. He took medal after medal, received the Legion of Honor in 1855, was commissioned by the Government for many decorations for public places, and prospered out of the sheer force of his genius. His art is excellently represented by "Love's First Step."

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