Édouard (François Berthélemy Michel) Cibot was a French painter born on April 20, 1799, in Paris. He was a historical and portrait painter who trained under the neoclassical artist Antoine-Jean Gros, a student of Jacques-Louis David. Cibot's education under Gros would have been rigorous, emphasizing drawing and the study of classical art and the human form.
Cibot's early career was marked by his historical paintings, which often depicted scenes from antiquity, following the neoclassical tradition. However, he was also influenced by the burgeoning Romantic movement, which emphasized emotion, individualism, and the sublime, a departure from the strict formalism of neoclassicism.
During his lifetime, Cibot exhibited at the prestigious Paris Salon, the official art exhibition of the Académie des Beaux-Arts in Paris. His works were generally well-received, and he built a reputation as a skilled painter. Despite being less known today than some of his contemporaries, Cibot contributed to the French art scene of the 19th century, and his works still reflect the transition from neoclassical to romantic styles.
Cibot's death in Paris on May 13, 1877, marked the end of his artistic journey. Though he may not have achieved the same level of fame as some of his peers, his work remains a testament to the artistic movements and styles that defined French art in the 19th century. Not many of his works are widely known today, but those that survive continue to be studied for their historical value and craftsmanship.