Collection: Henri Paul Motte

Henri-Paul Motte (1846–1922) was a French painter born in Paris, specializing in historical subjects. He trained under Jean-Léon Gérôme, whose own oeuvre included historical paintings. Motte first exhibited his work at the Paris Salon of 1874, establishing his focus within the academic tradition of history painting.

Motte's compositions primarily depicted themes from antiquity and modern French history. His painting Le cheval de Troie, first shown at the 1874 Paris Salon, was later acquired by the Wadsworth Atheneum. Another notable work, the 1881 Siege of La Rochelle, portrays Cardinal Richelieu during the 17th-century conflict.

Motte was made a Chevalier de la Légion d'honneur in 1892 and received a bronze medal at the Exposition Universelle of 1900 in Paris. His historical works were sometimes utilized as illustrations in history textbooks, contributing to their broader dissemination.