Hesiod and the Muse

1841–1857 · Lieu de travail

Paris

10 October 1856

Chassériau’s funeral: Delacroix notices Moreau

After a few short weeks of declining health Chassériau died at the age of 37, a loss that deeply affected Moreau. At the funeral procession on 10 October 1856 Delacroix noted in his journal that he had seen “the young Moreau” there and quite liked him.

1857

Leaves for Italy after Chassériau’s death

Chassériau’s death made Moreau withdraw from public life in his grief; concerned about his condition, his parents suggested a trip to Italy. In October 1857 he left Paris with his friend the artist Frédéric Charlot de Courcy, sailing from Marseille to Civitavecchia and on to Rome.

1857–1858

The Villa Medici: friends and a young Degas

At the Villa Medici Moreau could work from live models and made friends among the Parisians studying in Italy, including Élie Delaunay, Henri Chapu, Émile Lévy and Georges Bizet. He also met a young Edgar Degas, for whom he became something of a mentor in Italy.

octobre 1857 – juin 1858 · Lieu de travail

Rome

juin 1858 – août 1858 · Lieu de travail

Florence