Career, biography and origin of Fernand Pelez

The date of birth of the famous Fernand Pelez is November 18, 1843.

Fernand Pelez was a 19th-century French artist known for his striking portraits of Parisian urban life. Born in 1843 in Paris, Pelez quickly developed an interest in art and attended the École des Beaux-Arts in his hometown. He began his career painting mainly realistic genre scenes that depicted marginal characters and scenes of daily life in the working-class neighborhoods of Paris. 

His first major exhibition in 1876, entitled “Grisettes” was a huge success and brought him critical recognition and early public notoriety. Pelez continued this momentum with other successful exhibitions and winning numerous awards. His fame continued to grow, notably through his regular participation in official Salons, where his works were widely admired and discussed. Today, Fernand Pelez is considered one of the masters of French realism and his paintings are exhibited in numerous museums and collections around the world.

Fernand Pelez was a 19th-century French artist, primarily known for his realistic paintings depicting scenes from the daily life of the Parisian working classes. Born in 1843 in Paris, Pelez showed an early interest in art and entered the École des Beaux-Arts at the age of 16. His unique style skillfully blended academic techniques with careful observation of reality. His paintings often depicted urban subjects such as peasants, workers, street artists and beggars in sadly familiar life situations. 

Fernand Pelez’s realistic approach was deeply influenced by revolutionary artistic movements of the time, such as realism and naturalism. His works not only reflected the misery of the working classes, but they also showed sincere empathy towards the characters depicted, thus arousing the attention and compassion of the audience. His most famous piece, “Grimaces et Misère – Les Saltimbanques”, painted in 1888, is a striking example of his talent for capturing the humanity and emotion behind outward appearances. Fernand Pelez was considered a committed painter, seeking to reveal the social reality often neglected by the artistic elite of the time. His works continue to influence and inspire contemporary artists, making him an emblematic figure of 19th-century French realism.

Fernand Pelez, born April 27, 1843 in Paris, was a famous French painter of the 19th century. The genealogy of Fernand Pelez goes back several generations. His father, Jean-Baptiste Pelez, was a well-known color merchant in the Montmartre district of Paris. His mother, Marie-Louise Chabot, was a talented and appreciated seamstress. Fernand was the eldest son of the siblings and had three brothers and sisters: Louis, Marguerite and Élisabeth. Fernand Pelez’s artistic talents probably developed thanks to the influence of his father and the artistic atmosphere of Montmartre. 

Growing up, Fernand attended the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris, where he received comprehensive artistic training and was recognized for his precocious talent. His early works were mainly portraits, but he became famous for his paintings of scenes of urban Parisian life, often working-class scenes. His paintings were realistic and vividly captured the humanity and emotions of ordinary people. Fernand Pelez became a member of the Academy of Fine Arts in 1887 and received numerous prizes and distinctions throughout his career. His works are exhibited in numerous museums in France and abroad and are considered remarkable examples of social realism. Fernand Pelez died on February 16, 1913 in Paris, leaving behind an important artistic legacy.