Francois Diday

Nationality: Swiss

1802 - 1877

Diday began his artistic instruction in Geneva at age 11. In 1823, he briefly entered the atelier of Antoine-Jean Gros in Paris. The following year, he won a scholarship to Italy and spent time in Rome and Naples, returning to Geneva in 1825. Diday was famous for painting the mountainous regions from Geneva to the Bernese Oberland. Alexandre Calame was among the first of his many pupils. Upon his death, he left a significant sum to the city of Geneva designated to support the arts and artists.

Place of Birth: Geneva
Place of Death: Geneva

Text written and researched by Amy Marquis Fitzwilliam Museum, University of Cambridge.