Henri-Frederic Chopin was born in 1804 in Lubeck, Germany. He received his first art lessons from his father, the French sculptor Jean-Louis-Théodore Chopin. As a student of Baron Antoine-Jean Gros, the direct successor of the painter Jacques-Louis David, he participated in 1826 for the first time at the prestigious "Prix de Rome". Five years later, now under the pseudonym "Schopin" in contrast to Polish-born pianist Frederic Chopin, took on with the painting 'Achille poursuivi par le Xanthe'. This was associated with a scholarship to the French Academy at Villa Medici in Rome. After a long stay in the Eternal City the now married artist boasted a promising career with numerous commissions in prospect. In 1835 he succeeded the first tim...