Alexandre Cabanel (1823-1889): The Quintessence of Academic Painting Alexandre Cabanel, a name synonymous with the academic art of 19th-century France, was born in Montpellier on September 28, 1823. His journey toward artistic mastery began not within a family of artists, but as the son of a modest carpenter—a background that instilled in him a strong work ethic and perhaps a heightened appreciation for craftsmanship. Even at a young…