Jean-Joseph-Xavier Bidauld

A native of the city of Carpentras, Bidauld first studied painting with his elder brother, Jean-Pierre-Xavier, in Lyons.

In 1783 he traveled to Paris, while there, he won the favor of an art dealer and perfume seller named Dulac.

In 1792 he began receiving official commissions, and in 1823 he became the first landscape painter elected to the Académie des Beaux-Arts.

His reputation began to decline at about this time; as a member of the Salon jury, he was seen as blocking a new generation of landscape painters from gaining entry.

In 1800, François-Adrien Boieldieu dedicated to Bidauld his opera Le Calife de Bagdad.