Germann
The artist's wife, 1881
Oil on wood
Original catalogue wording
La femme de l'artiste, 1881
Öl auf Holz.
Date to be documented
Catalogue reference — sale not confirmed
View the lot at the auction house ↗SwissArtGallery · Documented identity
Léon Herbo
Born : 1850Died : 1907Documented citizenships : Belgium
The Belgian painter Léon Herbo, born in Templeuve and died in Ixelles, moved from genre scenes and historical subjects to portraiture, which occupies a central place in his work. He first trained at the Académie des beaux-arts de Tournai with Léonce Legendre from 1866 to 1869, then at the academy in Brussels, where he studied with Joseph Stallaert until 1874. After settling in Brussels, he exhibited there for the first time in 1875. The following year, he took part in founding the circle of former and current students of the fine arts academies of Brussels, which took the name L’Essor in November 1879.
He continued his work in the capital, taught at the Académie des beaux-arts and became its director; Théo Van Rysselberghe was among his students in 1880. From 1879 to 1905, Herbo exhibited regularly in Brussels, Ghent and Paris, notably at the Salons of the Société de l’Art français. His career was marked by distinctions: a medal in Algiers in 1881, an honorary diploma in Chaumont in 1882, a gold medal in Ghent in 1883, a vermeil medal in Tunis in 1887, followed by a gold medal in Cologne and an honourable mention at the Paris Universal Exhibition in 1889. Herbo produced jubilee portraits bringing together, on the occasion of an anniversary, members of professional groups such as officers, magistrates, actors or professors. He was also commissioned to paint portraits after the subject’s death. More than a thousand portraits are attributed to him, including many actors and artists depicted in stage costume; the subject of Othello and Desdemona recurs several times.
This profile brings together identity references for Léon Herbo and paintings, drawings and works on paper documented in auction catalogues.
1 references are documented at Germann. Each record links to its source; the amounts are not a general valuation of the artist’s work.
Works recorded at auction
Sources and references
SwissArtGallery documentary note based on the cited sources. Titles, media and qualifications are provided in the profile language; the original catalogue wording remains available in each record.
Documentation updated : 2026-10-19