The Life and Art of Claudius Barriot
Born in Vaise, France, Claudius Barriot was a French portraitist who studied at the Beaux Arts de Lyon and the Beaux Arts de Paris. During his studies, he was a student of Gleyre, Gérôme, and J. Lefebvre, eventually adopting the name Claudius. The son of landscape architect Jean Pierre Barriot, he was a dedicated teacher for thirty-three years, instructing at the Collège Notre-Dame de Mongré in Villefranche-sur-Saône. His popularity as a teacher was significant, with his lively workshops becoming a staple for local families.
Barriot's professional career saw him exhibiting in Paris and Lyon, including a debut at the Salon des Refusés in 1863. He was known for his portraits in oil and pastel, as well as his landscapes and marine scenes. He frequently painted en plein air, capturing motifs from the shores of the lakes in Northern Italy, Switzerland, and the South of France, and he also painted extensively in Étretat. His work reached international audiences, with several pieces held in England and in museums.
Artistic Contributions and Works
Beyond his personal canvases, Barriot contributed to various decorative projects. His work included decorations for the Cercle International de Vichy, the churches of Sainte-Euphémie, Saint Pierre de Vaise, and Limas, as well as the crypte Saint-Pothin at Antiquaille and mosaics in the crypte of the church of Saint Nizier de Lyon. He was also a prolific creator of sketches, charcoal drawings, and watercolors, often capturing scenes en plein air with a sense of modernism.
Some of his notable works include:
