Théodore Gudin

Nationality: French

1802 - 1880

Schooled at the École des Beaux-Arts, Paris, and known largely as a painter of marine scenes, Gudin was one of the first artists to be named marine painter at the court of Louis Philippe. Gudin was also a sailor and member of the U.S. Navy, and he survived a shipwreck that claimed his brother’s life in 1820. He was awarded medals at the Salon in 1824, 1848, and 1855. He was also conferred the Legion of Honor in 1828, promoted to officer of the order in 1841, and to commander in 1855. After the fall of the regime of Napoleon III in 1870, he went into self-imposed exile in England under the name Gordon.

Place of Birth: Paris
Place of Death: Boulogne-sur-Seine

Text written and researched by Michelle Bird National Gallery of Art, Washington DC.