Eugène Alexis Girardet

Eugène Alexis Girardet was born on May 31, 1853, and died on May 5, 1907. He was a French Orientalist painter of Swiss origin.

His family was Swiss Huguenot. His father, Paul Girardet, was an engraver. All his siblings - Jules, Léon, Paul Armand, Théodore, and Julia Antonine (1851 - 1921) - also became artists.

Girardet studied at the École des Beaux - arts. He trained in the studios of Jean - Léon Gérôme. In 1874, Gérôme inspired him to visit North Africa. He also spent time in Spain.

Starting from 1879, he made eight trips to Algeria. He focused on the southern areas around Biskra, El Kantara, and Bou Saâda. Here, he collaborated with Étienne Dinet. In 1898, he traveled to Egypt and Palestine. He created many artworks portraying desert nomads. He was different from other Orientalists as he didn't paint harem scenes.

Returning to France, he became a teacher at the Académie Julian. He regularly exhibited his work. He showed at the Salon and with the Société des Peintres Orientalistes Français. He had major exhibitions at the Exposition Universelle in 1900, where he won a gold medal, and at the Exposition Coloniale de Marseille in 1906. His works were also on display at the Glaspalast in Munich.