Herbo Léon

Léon Herbo was born in 1850 in Templeuve/Doornik and died in 1097 in Elsene. He was a painter and art critic. He received his education at the Academy in Doornik under the direction of Legendre and at the Academy in Brussels. Travelled to France, Italy and Germany and then settled in Brussels where he exhibited for the first time in 1875. He made his debut with genre scenes and historical compositions but increasingly focused on portrait painting. He painted more than 1200 portraits, often oriental beauties but also prominent figures and wealthy citizens of his time. He was one of the regular portrait painters of the army and the civil guard. Did not strive for psychological depth in his works, which were mainly notable for a harmonious and colourful colour palette. In 1876 co-founder of the L'Ensor circle. Work in the Museums in Doornik, Kortrijk, Ypres and Brussels, among others. Extensively mentioned in the Biographie Nationale of the Royal Academy of Belgium part CCCVII. Mentioned in BAS I and Two centuries of signatures of Belgian artists. (Piron)