Paul-Albert Girard

Paul-Albert Girard (1839–1920) was a French painter. Although he painted portraits and landscapes, he is best known as an Orientalist painter of North African scenes.

Life and career

The son of painter Pierre Girard, Albert studied at the École des Beaux-Arts from 1857 under Jean-Joseph Bellel.

His work was exhibited at the Salon from 1859 to 1913, at the Dijon Salon from 1887 to 1910, and at the Salon des peintres orientalistes. He won the Prix de Rome in 1861 for the category 'paysage historique' (Historic landscapes) for his painting entitled, The Procession of Silenus.

His oil painting Ritual Slaying of Cockerels (pictured) is in the collection of Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery.

Girard was made a Chevalier de la Légion d'Honneur in 1895.