Jacques-Laurent Agasse (April 24, 1767 – December 27, 1849) was an
animal
Animals are multicellular, eukaryotic organisms in the Biology, biological Kingdom (biology), kingdom Animalia (). With few exceptions, animals heterotroph, consume organic material, Cellular respiration#Aerobic respiration, breathe oxygen, ...
and
landscape
A landscape is the visible features of an area of land, its landforms, and how they integrate with natural or human-made features, often considered in terms of their aesthetic appeal.''New Oxford American Dictionary''. A landscape includes th ...
painter
Painting is a Visual arts, visual art, which is characterized by the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a solid surface (called "matrix" or "Support (art), support"). The medium is commonly applied to the base with ...
from Switzerland.
Born at
Geneva
Geneva ( , ; ) ; ; . is the List of cities in Switzerland, second-most populous city in Switzerland and the most populous in French-speaking Romandy. Situated in the southwest of the country, where the Rhône exits Lake Geneva, it is the ca ...
, Agasse studied in the public art school of that city. Before he turned twenty he went to
Paris
Paris () is the Capital city, capital and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, largest city of France. With an estimated population of 2,048,472 residents in January 2025 in an area of more than , Paris is the List of ci ...
to study in veterinary school to make himself fully acquainted with the anatomy of horses and other animals. He seems to have subsequently returned to
Switzerland
Switzerland, officially the Swiss Confederation, is a landlocked country located in west-central Europe. It is bordered by Italy to the south, France to the west, Germany to the north, and Austria and Liechtenstein to the east. Switzerland ...
. The ''
Tübinger Morgenblatt'' (1808, p. 876) says that "Agasse, the celebrated animal
painter
Painting is a Visual arts, visual art, which is characterized by the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a solid surface (called "matrix" or "Support (art), support"). The medium is commonly applied to the base with ...
, now in
England
England is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is located on the island of Great Britain, of which it covers about 62%, and List of islands of England, more than 100 smaller adjacent islands. It ...
, owed his fortune to an accident. About eight years ago, he being then in
Switzerland
Switzerland, officially the Swiss Confederation, is a landlocked country located in west-central Europe. It is bordered by Italy to the south, France to the west, Germany to the north, and Austria and Liechtenstein to the east. Switzerland ...
, a rich Englishman (
George Pitt, later Lord Rivers) asked him to paint his favourite dog (
greyhound
The English Greyhound, or simply the Greyhound, is a dog breed, breed of dog, a sighthound which has been bred for coursing, greyhound racing and hunting. Some are kept as show dogs or pets.
Greyhounds are defined as a tall, muscular, smooth-c ...
) which had died. The Englishman was so pleased with his work that he took the painter to
England
England is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is located on the island of Great Britain, of which it covers about 62%, and List of islands of England, more than 100 smaller adjacent islands. It ...
with him."
Nagler says that he was one of the most celebrated animal painters at the end of the 18th and the beginning of the 19th century. In
Johann Georg Meusel's ''Neue Miscellaneen'' (viii. 1052 et seq.), he compares Agasse and
Wouwermans, wholly in favour of the former. In that partial article much is said of his extreme devotion to art, of his marvelous knowledge of anatomy, of his special fondness for the English racehorses, and his excellence in depicting them. He appears first in the Academy catalogues in 1801 as the exhibitor of the 'Portrait of a Horse', and continued to exhibit more or less until 1845 (contradicting Nagler's statement that he died "about" 1806).
In the catalogues his name is given as J.L. Agasse or Agassé. The number of times Agassé changed his address confirms Redgrave's assertion that "he lived poor and died poor". The writer of the panegyric already quoted says, however, that he did not work for money, but that he was urged forward by the resistless force of natural genius.
Gallery
File:Landing at Westminster Bridge.jpg, ''Landing at Westminster Bridge'', 1818, oil on canvas, Oskar Reinhart Foundation, Winterthur
File:Agasse Quagga.jpg, ''Male Quagga'', early 1800s, Royal College of Surgeons
The Royal College of Surgeons is an ancient college (a form of corporation) established in England to regulate the activity of surgeons. Derivative organisations survive in many present and former members of the Commonwealth. These organisations ...
File:Jacques-Laurent Agasse - The Flower Seller.jpg, ''Flower Seller'', 1822, oil on canvas, Oskar Reinhart Collection, Winterthur
File:Jacques-Laurent Agasse - The Last Stage on the Portsmouth Road.jpg, ''The Last Stage on the Portsmouth Road'', 1815, oil on canvas, Oskar Reinhart Foundation, Winterthur
File:White Horse in Pasture.jpg, ''White Horse in Pasture'', 1806–1807, oil on canvas, Oskar Reinhart Foundation, Winterthur
File:Jaques-Laurent Agasse Emma Powles.jpg, Emma Powles
File:Jacques-Laurent Agasse - The Wellesley Grey Arabian Led through the Desert - Google Art Project.jpg, ''The Wellesley Grey Arabian Led through the Desert''
File:James Jacques Laurent Agasse (attr) Edinburgh and London Royal Mail.jpg, ''Edinburgh and London Royal Mail
Royal Mail Group Limited, trading as Royal Mail, is a British postal service and courier company. It is owned by International Distribution Services. It operates the brands Royal Mail (letters and parcels) and Parcelforce Worldwide (parcels) ...
''
File:Edward Cross by Agasse.jpg, Edward Cross (1774–1854), zoo proprietor.
File:The Playground (1830) - Jacques Laurent Agasse (Kunstmuseum Winterthur).jpg, '' The playground''
References
*
* Nagler, ''Allgemeines Künstler-Lexicon'', 1872, gives an account inter alia of his engraved works
* Füssli, ''Neue Zusätze zu dem allgemeinen Künstler-Lexicon''
* ''Tübinger Morgenblatt'', 1808, p. 876
* Meusel, ''Neue Miscellaneen'', viii. 1052
* Fiorillo, ''Geschichte der Mahlerey'', v. 841, speaks of Agasse and Charles Ansell as the most celebrated English animal painters
* Redgrave's ''Dictionary''.
External links
Global Gallery Bio & works23 works by Jacques-Laurent Agasse at www.Jacques-Laurent-Agasse.org
Jacques-Laurent Agasse Paintings Gallery (Public Domain Paintings - www.art.onilm.com)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Agasse
1767 births
1849 deaths
Swiss painters of animals
Swiss landscape painters
18th-century artists from the Republic of Geneva
19th-century artists from the Republic of Geneva
Swiss male painters
19th-century Swiss painters
19th-century Swiss male artists