L'Ivrogne

early 1880s

Trouble with his eyes begins

In the early 1880s he begins to have trouble with his eyes, which grows severe by the 1900s; he also suffers increasingly from arthritis. Partly because of these long-running illnesses, Cross’s body of work is relatively small.

1881

First exhibition at the Salon des Artistes Français

In 1881 he shows work at the Salon des Artistes Français for the first time; in these years he painted portraits and still lifes in the dark colors of Realism.

1881

Changes his surname from Delacroix to Cross

To avoid living in the shadow of the painter Eugène Delacroix, he shortens and Anglicizes his surname to “Henri Cross” — the French word croix means “cross”.

1881

Moves to Paris

After moving to Paris in 1881 he continues his art education under a fellow Douai artist, Émile Dupont-Zipcy.

1883

Travels to the Alpes-Maritimes and starts wintering in the south

With his family and Dr. Auguste Soins he travels to the Alpes-Maritimes and paints many landscapes there. From this year on he spends his winters in the south of France.

1884

Co-founder of the Society of Independent Artists

He is among the founders of a society of artists displeased with the practices of the official Salon; its exhibitions were held without a jury and without prizes. There he meets and befriends the Neo-Impressionists Georges Seurat, Albert Dubois-Pillet and Charles Angrand.