Abel De Pujol 1785-1861 Hector Imploring Apollo

Alexandre-Denis ABEL DE PUJOL
Valenciennes - 1785 - Paris - 1861
Hector imploring Apollo circa 1810-1820
Pen and brown ink over black pencil line on half-tone paper Squared in black pencil Signed lower center "Abel de Pujol"
19.8 x 11.8 cm

In Homer's Iliad, Hector, the greatest Trojan warrior, implores Apollo for strength and protection before his battle with Patroclus. This prayer foreshadows the tragic events to come; his victory over Patroclus will lead to the return of Achilles and his own death. Abel de Pujol captures the intensity of this divine supplication.
Abel de Pujol began his artistic training in Valenciennes before moving to Paris, where he joined the studio of Jacques-Louis David in 1803.
Winner of the Prix de Rome in 1811, he became a major figure in French academic painting under the Restoration and the July Monarchy.
Recognized for his historical and religious paintings, he produced important decorative programs for several Parisian churches and public buildings, notably the Bourse and the Louvre Palace.
Elected to the Académie des Beaux-Arts in 1835, he was made a Knight of the Legion of Honor. A master of monumental compositions, he excelled in both oil painting and fresco, contributing to the renaissance of the latter technique in France.
His work at the Louvre, particularly the ceiling of the grand staircase depicting "The Renaissance of the Arts," remains one of his most remarkable achievements.
The Valenciennes Museum of Fine Arts houses a large collection of his works, testifying to his lasting attachment to his hometown.