2016 Sunset Report

OLG & DCRT Strategic Plan
2020-21 through 2024-25

       

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Paintings Works On Paper Photographs Sculpture

 

French, 1810 - 1866

Lion exhibited at the Salon in Paris between 1831 and 1836. He came to New Orleans, where he was considered a "Free Man of Color," in late 1836 or early 1837. In 1839, Lion returned to Paris, where he learned the patented daguerreotype process from one of Jacques Louis Mandé Daguerre's partners. On March 14, 1840, the New Orleans Bee announced a display of Lion's daguerreotypes at the St. Charles Museum -- the first documented exhibition of photographs in Louisiana.

Lion was active as a photographer until about 1843. His main focus, however, was lithographed portraits of prominent Louisianans created between 1837 and 1847. In 1860, he made an unsuccessful attempt to publish about 200 of his portraits in a book entitled Notabilités de la Louisiane. Lion also taught art with Dominique Canova (1800 - 1868) at the Louisiana College. Near the end of his life, he lithographed sheet music covers with Confederate themes.

 

La Cathedrale - Jules Lion
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La Cathedrale/The Cathedral
Jules Lion
1842
Lithograph on paper
Louisiana State Museum, T0347.1991

This view of Chartres Street looks east, from St. Peter Street. On the left are the Cabildo, St. Louis Cathedral, and the Presbytere. Jackson Square appears on the right. The lithograph is based likely on a daguerreotype by Lion described in the New Orleans Bee in 1840. None of Lion's photographs have been identified to date.

 

John James Audubon - Jules Lion
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John James Audubon
Jules Lion
1860
Lithograph on paper
Louisiana State Museum, 00221

The lithograph is based on a miniature of Audubon painted in the 1820s by the English artist Frederick Cruikshank (1800 - 1866).

 

B. Winchester - Jules Lion
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B. Winchester
Jules Lion
1842
Lithograph on paper
Louisiana State Museum Gift of Charles L Thompson, 10277.05

 

Prudent Mallard - Jules Lion
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Prudent Mallard
Jules Lion
1836
Lithograph on paper, 11 1/4 x 9 1/2 inches
Louisiana State Museum Gift of Mrs. Thomas McHyman, 07799.01

Mallard was born in Sevres, France in 1809. He came to New Orleans in 1829 and became a leading dealer in imported furniture, and appears to have made furniture as well.

 

Mr. Prudent Mallard - Jules Lion
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Mr. Prudent Mallard
Pierre Eugène Jules Maison (French, 1814 - 1879)
1853
oil on canvas, 36 3/8 x 28 7/8 inches
Louisiana State Museum, Gift of Mr. Stephen Perry, 1983.118.1