A wonderful genre painting of an elopement by Jules Girardet. As the two young lovers make their escape into an awaiting carriage, the young woman takes one last look back at the home she is leaving. This painting was exhibited at the Paris Salon of 1912 and a photographic plate of it was printed in the exhibition catalogue.

Jules Girardet was born on 10 April, 1856 at Versailles, Paris to the Swiss artist and engraver Paul Armand Girardet (1821–1893) and Louise ‘Alexandrine' Anne Sandoz. His twin brother Léon Girardet (1856–1885), brothers Eugène Alexis Girardet (1853-1907), Paul Armand Girardet Jnr (1859–1915), Théodore Octave Girardet (1861-1935) and sister Julia Antoine (1851-1921) also became artists.

He attended the École des Beaux-arts in Paris and also studied under Alexandre Cabanel together with his brother Léon. He travelled to North Africa with his older brother Eugène, who was an orientalist and also visited Algeria with Léon. However, on his return decided to specialise in genre and historical paintings for which he has become best known.

Girardet married Marie ‘Mathilde’ Marguerite Mayor de Montricher on 15 November, 1881 at Marseille. Together they lived at 55 rue Théophile-Gautier in Boulogne-Billancourt, a wealthy suburb of Paris, where he built a studio. He made his debut at the Paris Salon in 1881 where he received a medal and continued to exhibit there throughout his life. He later won a Silver Medal at the Exposition Universelle of 1889.

As well as producing paintings he also illustrated a number of books including: Mademoiselle de Fierlys by Frédéric Dillaye and Tartarin de Tarascon by Alphonse Daudet. He was awarded the Légion d'honneur for his contribution to art. Girardet died on 25 January, 1938 at Boulogne-Billancourt.

Examples of his paintings can be found at the Musée d'art et d'histoire de Cholet, Nantes Museum, Museum of Berne, Switzerland and also at the Williamson Art Gallery, Birkenhead and the Box, Plymouth.

© Benton Fine Art