CORMON

cormon, fernand (1845- ), french painter, was born in paris. he became a pupil of cabanel, fromentin and portaels, and one of the leading historical painters of modern france. at an early age he attracted attention by the better class of sensationalism in his art, although for a time his powerful brush dwelled with particular delight on scenes of bloodshed, such as the "murder in the seraglio" (1868) and the "death of ravara, queen of lanka" at the toulouse museum. the luxembourg has his "cain flying before jehovah's curse"; and for the mairie of the fourth arrondissement of paris he executed in grisaille a series of panels: "birth," "death," "marriage," "war," &c. "a chief's funeral," and pictures having the stone age for their subject, occupied him for several years. he was appointed to the legion of honour in 1880. subsequently he also devoted himself to portraiture.