Édouard Henri Théophile Pingretartist • painterSaint-Quentin (Frankrijk) 1788-1875

French genre painter and lithographer Éduard Pingret debuted at the Paris Salon in 1810 at the age of 22 and achieved immediate success with his portraits and historical genre pieces in an academic, realistic style. This was hardly surprising, as he had studied in Paris with the renowned Jacques-Louis David, a painter of historical scenes and portraits, and with Jean-Baptiste Regnault, known for his historical and mythological depictions. At some point, Pingret grew tired of portraying wealthy Parisians, packed up his painting supplies, and traveled via North Africa to Mexico City, where he would remain for five years. There, he again portrayed wealthy citizens, this time Mexicans. But this time, the adventure of the charms of rural life beckoned him, leading him to paint 'costumbrismo' genre scenes; a branch of genre painting that captured the manners and customs of daily life in Spanish-speaking areas, sometimes with a subtle satirical undertone and a romanticization of folkloric details. Pingret painted many genre pieces of Mexican interiors there, which brought him fame throughout America.