Les Comédiens

1861

“Phryne before the Areopagus” divides the critics

At the Salon of 1861 the canvas of the courtesan Phryne, whose beauty saved her from a charge of impiety, drew sharply opposed verdicts. Degas fumed in 1891 that Gérôme’s Phryne covers herself, while Stasov, otherwise sceptical of academicism, wrote in 1879 that the picture was a true work of art.

1861

Duel with the art dealer Stevens

In 1861 Gérôme fought a duel with the art dealer Stevens — according to R. Bonheur, over a woman; no experienced duellist, he got off with a light wound in the arm.

1861–1863

A year in Egypt, Syria and Palestine

Right after the duel Gérôme left France for a year-long journey through Egypt, Syria and Palestine, described in detail in his autobiography: for 17 days he crossed the Syrian desert and spent Easter in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. He returned to Paris in January 1863.

1863

Marries the daughter of the art dealer Goupil

In 1863 Gérôme married Marie Goupil (1842–1912), daughter of the international art dealer Adolphe Goupil; they had four daughters and a son. He moved to a house in rue de Bruxelles, close to the Folies Bergère, and enlarged it into a grand house with stables, a sculpture studio below and a painting studio on the top floor.

13 November 1863

Professor at the École des Beaux-Arts