Eugene Isabey

Dieppe – The Artists – Isabey, Eugene

This page forms part of a series of pages dedicated to the many artists who painted in Dieppe. A full list of all the artists with a link to their works can be found at the bottom of this page.

Eugene Isabey
Eugene Isabey

Movement(s): Romanticism

Eugene Louis Gabriel Isabey (1803 – 1886) was a French painter, lithographer and watercolorist in the Romantic style. He was born to Jean-Baptiste Isabey, a well known painter who enjoyed the patronage of the Imperial Family. Originally, he wanted to be a sailor, but his father insisted that he study painting; a turnabout from the usual situation where the family opposes an artistic career in favor of something more practical.

He shared a studio with fellow artist Xavier Leprince while living in Honfleur.

In 1831, he was chosen to accompany a diplomatic mission to Morocco, led by the Comte de Mornay, but he politely refused. He had just returned from a short trip to Algiers, where he had painted scenes of the Royal Navy’s campaign, and was concerned that the situation there was still too unsettled to make a lengthy stay. He was replaced by his friend, Eugene Delacroix, who created over 100 works that are now considered classics of Orientalism.

Shortly after, however, Isabey became a court painter for King Louis-Philippe and was named a Knight in the Legion d’Honneur in 1832. One of his best known paintings was done during this period, in 1840, depicting the return of Napoleon’s remains from Saint Helena aboard the Belle Poule.

During a trip to England, he was known to have studied the works of J.M.W. Turner. He was especially skillful at rendering subtleties in darker colors; which might be called a form of grisaille. He took in students on a regular basis; including Eugene Boudin, Johan Barthold Jongkind and Durand-Brager. In his later years, he turned from marine painting to historical scenes, usually of a violent nature, such as massacres, duels and robberies.

Click here to read Isabey’s full bio on Wikipedia.

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NOTE: A black box like this one, means that there is an explanation text about today’s situation of the painting above it.
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1843 - Eugene Isabey - Village at Dieppe
1843 – Eugene Isabey – Village at Dieppe
1845 - Eugene Isabey - The Fish Market, Dieppe
1845 – Eugene Isabey – The Fish Market, Dieppe
1853 - Eugene Isabey - Bathers at the beach of Dieppe
1853 – Eugene Isabey – Bathers at the beach of Dieppe

TODAY: Beaches all over Normandy still have beach huts for people to rest and change in. It’s a strong tradition, and often these huts remain in the family for generations.

1855 - Eugene Isabey - Boats in the harbour of Dieppe
1855 – Eugene Isabey – Boats in the harbour of Dieppe
1856 - Eugene Isabey - Women Bathing at Dieppe
1856 – Eugene Isabey – Women Bathing at Dieppe
???? - Eugene Isabey - Dieppe
???? – Eugene Isabey – Dieppe
???? - Eugene Isabey - The Pier at Dieppe
???? – Eugene Isabey – The Pier at Dieppe

TODAY: The pier is still there, a bit longer.

???? - Eugene Isabey - View of Dieppe
???? – Eugene Isabey – View of Dieppe

TODAY: Present-day Dieppe does not look like this at all anymore.

Varengeville-sur-Mer

The village of Varengeville-sur-Mer (population: 1,000) lies next to Pourville, a bit further East from Dieppe along the coast. It was a popular place for artists.

1850 - Eugene Isabey - The Church of Valery at Varengeville
1850 – Eugene Isabey – The Church of Valery at Varengeville
???? - Eugene Isabey - Church of Varengeville
???? – Eugene Isabey – Church of Varengeville

Isabey painted several places in France (a link “” to his works will appear below when published):

Dieppe in Normandy was a popular place for artists to come and apply their art. Here is a list, non exhaustive, of the artists that painted in Dieppe.

A link (“⇠”) to the artist’s works will appear when published (a “*” indicates that the artist did not work directly in Dieppe, instead worked in nearby villages):

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Today: The Harbour
Today: The Harbour
The Pier as seen from the sea
The Pier as seen from the sea
Today: Overview from heights rear cliffs
Today: Overview from heights rear cliffs
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