François Lafon
Early Life, Family and Training François Lafon was born in Paris in 1846. He grew up in a household where the smell of oil and the sight of brushes were constant, as he was the fourth child of the painter Jacques-Émile Lafon. His father, who lived from 1817 to 1886, provided the first lessons, guiding the boy's hand and teaching him the fundamentals of the craft. This early apprenticeship meant that the language of painting was spoken…
The Lifeline
Scroll through François Lafon's working life — artwork by artwork, chapter by chapter — from the earliest dated work to the last. Each thumbnail is pinned at its exact year on the gold axis.
Chapters — Career Periods
The ribbon is divided into shaded bands, one per career chapter. Each chapter groups François Lafon's works by their historical period — early training, mature practice, final years.
Thumbnails — Dated Works
Every thumbnail is pinned at its precise creation year. A thin gold thread drops from the image to its exact point on the axis. Larger frames mark the artist's masterpieces by rank.
Colour Band — Movement Drift
The gradient bar beneath the axis shifts colour as the dominant art movement changes over time — from the warm golds of the early period through the deeper tones of maturity. It fills progressively as you scroll.