Figure 1.--Henri Jules Jean Geoffroy painted this class room image, 'Primary school class' (1889), The Third epublic Ministère de l’Education Nationale liked it so much that they purchased it. The paintng still hangs in the Ministère in Paris. Notice one of the new female lay teachers. We can see many boys wearing smocks, but they do not seem to be required wear. We are not bsure just how the schools promoted smocks. For some reason, sme of the boys are using pencil and apper while some younger boys have slates. We do not understand why the younger boys are mixed in with the older boys.

Children are depicted by most artists, but only a small number actually specialize in children many of whom are women painters. This is surely because they naturally interact better with children tha do men, especially younger children. This is paticuarly important with bhildren sitting for a portrait. One exception to women specializung with children is French artist Henri Jules Jean Geoffroy (1853–1924). Geoffroy was born in Marennes, along the Bay of Biscay (1853). His father was a tailor. We do not have much informtion about his childhood. He studied in Paris, probably the École des Beaux Arts (about 1871). He first exhibited at the Salon (1874). He was only 21 years old, a young age to exhibit at the Solon. Geoffroy did not paint sedate single models. He painted genre scenes. He did a lot of school scenes. Geoffroy had aacess to schools where he was to be especially most successful and prolific. He reportedly lodged above a school, with two teachers. His work both picture school children and school-age children playing. Geoffroy began getting commissions to illustrate books about childhood and youth from the publisher Pierre-Jules Hetzel (1814-86) (1876). Hetzelo also published the work of Gustave Doré, and discovered Jules Verne. Geoffroy not only illustrate books, but did oil paintings of scenes from well known books, including one fromm Victor Hugo's Les Miserables. Geoffroy did not begin to get much public recognition for some time (mid-1880s). He had taken to signing his works 'Geo'.

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Created: 6:06 AM 7/21/2025
Last updated: 6:07 AM 7/21/2025